Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would first say that the Bible appears to address father-daughter relationships from the standpoint of when the daughter is still living at home under her parents' care, rather than after she has left home, which in Biblical times would have occurred most commonly at the time that the daughter was married, when her husband would then have become responsible for providing for her.

While at home, the daughter would have been expected to honor and obey her father (as well as her mother) (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1). (However, God makes no inherent distinction between sons and daughters with respect to His love for them, or their equal status from a spiritual standpoint in His eyes.)

Also, Numbers 30:3-5 indicated that the father of a daughter living at home had a veto power over any vow that the daughter might make if he became aware of that vow. She would then be released from having to fulfill her vow. (However, if the father did not become aware of it, the daughter would be bound by the vow that she had made.)

In addition, the Bible commands fathers not to provoke their children, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). 

I would also say that Christian fathers should view it as their duty to be a model of God's love toward their children, as well as showing love and respect toward the children's mother (since how they carry out their responsibilities in those roles will have a large influence over the perception and attitude of their children toward God in His role as their heavenly Father); and also (particularly with regard to their daughters) to be a model of the qualities that the father would want the men whom his daughter will date or marry to possess.

June 01 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report