52 Bible Verses for Kids to Memorize

The Top 52 Important Bible Verses Every Kid Should Know (KJV) with PDFs!

Teaching children Scripture is one of the most powerful gifts we can give them. Memorizing the Word of God is a great way to plant seeds of faith, wisdom, and courage for a lifetime. Below is a handpicked list of 52 important Bible verses (all in the King James Version) — one for each week of the year — that are perfect for kids to learn, hide in their hearts, and carry with them. A lot of these are geared for younger children, but if the whole verse is too much, just encourage them to learn part of the verse. At the end, there’s lots of tips on learning and teaching these Bible verses for kids to memorize to your own children. I made you a free download with a flashcard for each verse. Just scroll to the bottom for the download buttons!

Why These 52 Verses Matter

These verses were chosen because they cover foundational truths:

God’s love and character
God’s plan for life
Trust and obedience
Fear, anxiety, and comfort
Wisdom and guidance
The gospel: sin, salvation, and eternal life
Courage, perseverance, and hope
Prayer, praise, and practical Christian living

By learning these Bible Memory verses, kids not only grow spiritually but also gain moral grounding and encouragement to do right in certain life situations.

52 Scripture Verses to Memorize (KJV)

Here is the list of 52 important Bible verses for kids. Each one is followed by a short “kid-friendly explanation” to help you teach it.

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
God made everything, and He is the powerful Creator.
Psalm 119:105 – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
God’s Word shows us the right way to go, like a flashlight in the dark.
Psalm 56:3 – “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
When I’m scared, I can trust God to help me.
Psalm 127:3 – “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
Children are a precious gift from God.
Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
God takes care of me, like a shepherd cares for his sheep.
Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
We should trust God fully, not just ourselves.
Proverbs 3:6 – “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
If we include God in everything, He will guide us.
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Learning God’s way early helps you follow Him your whole life.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Our main job is to love God and obey Him.
Isaiah 40:31 – “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”
If we trust God, He gives us strength to rise above hard times.
Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
God hears our prayers and shows us great things.
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Put God first, and He will take care of your needs.
Matthew 19:14 – “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus loves children and welcomes them.
John 1:3 – “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
We should treat others with kindness and love.
Mark 12:30 – “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.”
Love God with everything you are.
Luke 10:27 – “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” God’s greatest two commandments.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God gave His Son so we can have eternal life.
John 8:12 – “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Jesus lights up our life and shows us the truth.
John 10:10 – “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Jesus gives a full, joyful life and eternal life for our future.
John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus is the only way to God.
Acts 16:31 – “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
We are saved by believing in what Jesus did on the cross for us.
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Everyone sins and needs God’s blood to wash their sin away.
Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God loved us even tho he knew we were sinners, and Jesus died for us.
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Sin leads to death, but God gives us endless life through Jesus.
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”
God works all things for good if we love Him.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful…”
God helps us when we’re tempted; He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Faith, hope, and charity remain forever — charity is the greatest.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
When we follow Jesus, we are made new.
Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…”
We live by Christ in our hearts.
Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
These are the qualities God grows in us through His Spirit, if we walk in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
Salvation is God’s gift; we receive it by believing.
Ephesians 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you…”
We should treat others kindly and forgive them.
Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
God gives us spiritual armor to protect us.
Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
Always find joy in the Lord, no matter the circumstance.
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Don’t worry, instead take things to God in prayer.
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
If we get our strength from the Lord, we can do whatever He asks of us.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Give thanks to God for everything.
1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
Even young people can be a good example for others.
2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
God gives us courage, love, and a calm mind.
2 Timothy 2:22 – “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Run from what’s wrong; run toward what’s right.
Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith means believing in what you can’t see yet.
Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
God rewards those who truly believe and seek Him.
James 1:19 – “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
Listen more than you talk, and don’t get angry quickly.
1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Give your worries to God because He cares about you.
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We should tell God we are sorry when we do wrong and keep a good relationship with Him.
1 John 4:7-8 – “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
God is love; we show we know Him by loving others.
1 John 4:19 – “We love him, because he first loved us.”
We love God because He loved us first.
Psalm 139:14 – “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
God made me special and amazing.
Micah 6:8 – “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”
God wants us to do what is right, be kind, and stay close to Him.
John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Jesus Christ is God.
John 11:25 – “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
Jesus gives life, even after death.
Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Jesus is always ready to come into our hearts if we invite Him.

Use & Memory Plan

Weekly Memory: Each week, pick one card to focus on. Read it, talk about what it means, and practice reciting it.
Review Sessions: At the end of each month, review all four cards from that month.
Games: Use the cards for fun activities — memory games, matching, hide-and-seek (hide cards around room), etc.
Reflection: Encourage kids to draw or write a short prayer or example about how they saw the verse in their life that week.

Our Bible Scavenger Hunt is a fun to way to use Scripture for a game! Check it out HERE>>

Why Printing Cards Helps

Visual Reminder: Having the verse on a card that kids can physically hold, carry, or display reinforces memorization.
Repetition: The more they see and say it, the more the verse sinks in.
Ownership: When children have their own cards, it feels personal — not just something the teacher or parent gives them.
Portability: These cards can go in lunchboxes, backpacks, or pockets — perfect for quick review anytime.

Print them on cardstock for best results (grab some on Amazon), or print them and laminate them (this is a great home laminator) if you want them to last a long time! Cut each sheet into 4 cards before laminating them.

Tips for Teaching These Verses to Kids

Age-Appropriate Discussion
- For younger kids (5–8), use simple explanations and stories.
- For older children (9–12+), ask more questions: “What does this verse mean to you? How could you live it this week?”
Use Actions or Motions
Add hand motions or gestures to help kids remember certain phrases (e.g., pointing to heart when “heart” is mentioned, or pretending to shine a lamp when talking about light).
Make It Interactive
- Use flashcards in games.
- Let kids quiz each other.
- Turn review into a competition (friendly): who can recite more cards after a month?
Apply It
Encourage children to pick one verse each week that they will try to live out. In the end, we want our children to develop their own love of the importance of Scripture memorization.
Celebrate Milestones
When a child memorizes 10, 20, or even all 52, celebrate! Give them a certificate, a small prize, or a special recognition during family or church.

Memorizing Scripture is one of the most meaningful spiritual habits a child can develop. These 52 carefully selected KJV verses give children a strong foundation of God’s Word — His promises, His character, and His call on their lives. By pairing these verses with printable cards, regular practice, and creative teaching, you’ll help them hide God’s truth in their hearts for life. These can be a powerful reminder in their future when they are at a crossroads or be a source of comfort when they most need it.