This list gives you King James Version verses about forgiving family members, whether the hurt came from a parent, a sibling, a spouse, or a child. The verses are arranged by the moments when forgiveness is hardest to offer, so you can find the right passage for the day you are having. What these passages share is a simple pattern: God forgives us first, and that mercy shapes how we treat the people closest to us.
Verses for Holding On to Hurt You Cannot Forget
Some family wounds do not fade quickly. Memories return at holidays, in old photographs, or in a single careless phrase. These passages speak to the person who wants to forgive but still feels the sting.
Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
(KJV)
Paul ties forgiveness to remembering how much you yourself have been forgiven. Try writing the words of this verse on a card and placing it where you will see it during the next conversation that stirs old pain.
Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(KJV)
This verse treats forgiveness as a choice made in response to a complaint, not a feeling you must first manufacture. When resentment rises, name the specific offense to God in one sentence, then ask Him to help you set it down.
Matthew 6:14-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(KJV)
Jesus links our forgiveness of others with our own standing before the Father. Before you call your brother or sister, pause and pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly, paying attention to the line about debts.
Verses for When an Apology Never Comes
Sometimes the person who hurt you will never say they are sorry. Forgiveness in these cases is not the same as pretending nothing happened. These verses point you toward God as the one who judges rightly and heals fully.
Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
(KJV)
Paul reminds believers that vengeance belongs to God, which frees you from keeping score. Each time you feel the urge to retaliate or to replay the argument, say aloud that the matter is in God’s hands.
Psalm 37:8
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
(KJV)
David warns against anger because anger leads toward harmful action. When irritation builds during a family phone call, step outside for two minutes and breathe slowly while repeating a single phrase of prayer.
Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
(KJV)
From the cross, Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who had wronged Him, even while they were unaware of what they were doing. Consider writing this prayer for the relative who has not apologized, asking God to open their eyes in His time.
Verses for Restoring Trust in Your Family
Forgiveness opens the door to reconciliation, though the two are not always the same. These passages describe how God rebuilds what sin has damaged, and they encourage patience as trust returns step by step.
2 Corinthians 5:18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…
(KJV)
Paul describes God as the one who reconciles us to Himself and gives us the ministry of reconciliation. Ask God each morning to show you one small way you can serve as a peacemaker in your home this week.
Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
(KJV)
This proverb distinguishes between covering an offense with love and repeating it to others. Practice this by choosing not to bring up an old failure in a family discussion, even when it would be easy to do.
Genesis 45:5
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
(KJV)
Joseph told his brothers not to be distressed because God had worked through their betrayal for good. Look for the ways God may be shaping your family story, even when the timing and the people feel painful.
Verses for Forgiving Yourself Alongside Others
Family conflict often leaves us carrying guilt for our own part in it. These verses remind you that God’s forgiveness extends to you as well, and that you can receive it as freely as you give it.
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.
(KJV)
John assures believers that confessing sin brings faithful and just forgiveness. If you have been harsh with a parent or child, confess the specific words or actions to God today and accept His cleansing.
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
(KJV)
The psalmist describes God removing our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. When guilt returns about an old family argument, remind yourself that God has already dealt with it and ask Him to help you let it go.
Micah 7:19
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
(KJV)
Micah pictures God casting sins into the depths of the sea. Imagine handing God the memory you keep returning to, trusting that He does not hold it against you once it has been confessed.
How to Use These Verses
Write two or three of these verses on index cards and keep them in a Bible, a wallet, or a kitchen drawer where your family gathers. Reading them aloud at the start of a difficult day can help you approach conversations with humility rather than defensiveness. Some people find it helpful to pick one verse each week and return to it during quiet moments.
When you pray these passages, turn them into requests rather than lectures. Ask God to soften your heart toward the family member who hurt you, and to show you whether reconciliation is possible or whether you need to release the relationship into His care. Keep a short note of what you pray, and review it after a month to notice where God has been at work.
A Short Prayer for Family Forgiveness
Father, you know the hurts I carry from the people who should have loved me well. Some of them still sting, and some of them I have never spoken aloud. Help me to remember how much you have forgiven me, and let that mercy flow through me toward my family. Where I have been unwilling, soften my heart. Where trust has been broken, give me patience and wisdom, and give the people I love the grace to change. I release the debts I have been holding against them into your hands, trusting that you are just and that you are near. Thank you for forgiving me first. Amen.
