20 Bedtime Bible Stories for Kids

Are you looking for gentle, age‑appropriate Bible stories to share at bedtime that teach simple moral lessons? Here are 20 Bedtime Bible Stories for Kids that are short, comforting, and easy to read aloud.

20 Bedtime Bible Stories for Kids

🍎 Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

This story takes us all the way back to the beginning! God created a beautiful garden called Eden. It was perfect, with yummy fruits and all the friendly animals. Adam and Eve were the very first people, and God let them live happily in the garden with only one rule – don't eat the fruit from a special tree in the middle.

But a sneaky serpent tricked Eve into taking a bite, and she shared it with Adam. By disobeying, they made a bad choice called sin. Even though things weren't perfect anymore, God was still kind and promised them a special Savior (that's Jesus!). This story teaches us the importance of listening to God, even when someone tricks us into doing the wrong thing.

🦁 Daniel and His Super-Cool Sleepover in the Lion's Den

Daniel was a really good friend of God. Some not-so-nice people made a silly rule that Daniel couldn't pray to God anymore! Did Daniel listen? Nope! He prayed extra hard and showed how much he loved God. What do you think happened? Those mean people threw him into a den full of hungry lions!

But the next morning, guess what? Daniel was totally fine. You see, God protected him the whole night! This bedtime story from the Bible reminds us that God is always with us, even when we're a little bit scared.

🧱 Noah's Giant Floating Ark

Imagine if it rained so much that everything in the world was covered in water! That's what happened to Noah. But God told Noah to build a giant boat called an ark. Noah brought two of every animal onto the boat – that must have been noisy! Noah's family and all the animals floated safely until the rain stopped, and when it did, a beautiful rainbow came out. This bedtime story from the Bible shows us that God always keeps his promises.

🌟 Little Baby Jesus and the Big, Bright Star

A really long time ago, a very special baby named Jesus was born. To know where to find him, wise men followed a super bright star in the sky all the way to the place where Jesus was sleeping! Shepherds who were taking care of fluffy sheep also visited baby Jesus in a stable. Jesus is God's son, and his birth showed everyone how much God loves us. This bedtime story from the Bible is the perfect way to remember Christmas.

💪 David and the Terrifying, Giant Bully

David was just a young shepherd taking care of his sheep. One day, a giant named Goliath was teasing David's army, saying no one was brave enough to fight him. Even though David was small, he knew God was with him, and he used just a small slingshot and some stones to defeat the giant! This bedtime story from the Bible teaches us that even when things look scary, God can help us be brave.

🐟 Jonah and the Big Fish Ride

Jonah didn't feel like doing what God wanted him to do – sometimes we feel like that too, right? So, he jumped on a boat to sail far, far away! God sent a huge storm, and the sailors realized Jonah was the reason for all the trouble and threw him overboard! Guess what happened next? A giant fish came along and swallowed Jonah whole!

Jonah spent three whole days inside the belly of the giant fish. Finally, he asked God for forgiveness, and the whale spit him out onto the beach. This bedtime story from the Bible shows us that God always gives us another chance if we say we're sorry.

🧺 Baby Moses and the Floating Basket Ride

Little baby Moses' mom had to hide him from some people who wanted to hurt him. She made a special basket and floated him down the river for his big sister, Miriam, to watch. Pharaoh's daughter (that's like a princess!) found baby Moses and decided to keep him safe, and God took care of him. This bedtime story from the Bible shows that God has wonderful plans for us, even when things seem tricky.

🥪 Jesus Feeds the 5000

Jesus had lots of friends and followers. Can you imagine a picnic with thousands of people? Well, they all got hungry, but there was only a bit of fish and some bread – enough for a little boy maybe! But Jesus took what they had, thanked God, and started handing it out. There was enough food for everyone and even baskets of leftovers! This bedtime story from the Bible shows us that God can do incredible things, and reminds us to share what we have.

🤕 The Good Samaritan Helps Out

There was a special group of people, a bit like superheroes, called Samaritans. A man was traveling on a road and got hurt by mean robbers. Some important people walked right by and didn't help! But then, guess who came along? A Samaritan! He stopped, cleaned the man's wounds, used his own donkey to give him a ride to a safe place, and even paid for him to stay there! This bedtime story from the Bible teaches us to be kind to everyone, even people we don't know.

✨ Jesus Walks on Water and Calms the Storm

Imagine it's super windy and the waves on a lake are crashing everywhere! That's what happened to Jesus' friends on their boat one night. Jesus wasn't with them, and they were super scared. Suddenly, they saw someone walking on the water towards their boat – it was Jesus! He even asked Peter to step out onto the water with him (how brave!). The moment Jesus climbed into the boat, the storm stopped. Wow! This bedtime story from the Bible shows us that Jesus can calm our fears.

🌈 Joseph and His Coat of many Colors

Joseph was his dad's favorite son, and to show it, he gave Joseph an awesome rainbow-colored coat! That made his brothers really jealous. One day, they tricked him and sold him to be a servant far away. But even though they tried to get rid of him, God had a special plan for Joseph. He eventually became a powerful leader in a far-off land! This bedtime story from the Bible reminds us that even bad things can be part of God's good plan.

🧱 Walls Fall Down! The Battle of Jericho

Joshua was a mighty leader, and God asked him to do something pretty unusual. Instead of fighting soldiers with swords, God told Joshua and his people to march around the city of Jericho, blowing trumpets and shouting loudly. They did this for six days, and on the seventh day, the walls of the city came crashing down! This bedtime story from the Bible shows us that with God's help, we can overcome big challenges.

👑 Queen Esther, Brave and Kind

Esther was a beautiful girl who became queen. A mean man called Haman wanted to hurt all of Esther's people. Esther was scared, but she prayed for courage and came up with a clever plan. She asked the king for help, and he saved the day! This bedtime story from the Bible teaches us to be brave when we need to help others.

🐑 The Boy Who Became A King

There once was a little shepherd boy named David who took care of sheep. King Saul wanted David to play music for him because he could make beautiful sounds on his harp. One day David even fought Goliath and used his shepherd skills to defeat the giant! Saul thought David was too young to be so brave, but he was wrong. David even became a powerful king when he grew up! This bedtime story from the Bible shows that God looks at our hearts, not our size or age.

🙏 Paul Shares God's Love Everywhere!

Paul didn't always love Jesus, but something miraculous happened that changed his whole life! He started traveling everywhere, telling people about the amazing things Jesus had done. Paul even made lots of friends and started new churches so others could learn about God's love. This bedtime story from the Bible encourages us to be like Paul and share the good news of Jesus with everyone.

🔥 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace

Have you ever been told to do something you know is wrong? That's what happened to these three friends! The king built a giant golden statue and ordered everyone to bow down to it. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego loved God and knew they shouldn't bow to anyone else. The king got super angry and threw them into a fiery furnace!

It was so hot in there, but miraculously, they didn't get burned at all – a special friend was walking inside the flames with them, protecting them. Their story teaches us about trusting God, even when we're scared.

😇 Angels Bring Good News: John the Baptist is Born

A long time ago, a man named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth couldn't have a baby, and they were really sad. But one day, while Zechariah was at the temple, a glowing angel appeared! The angel told him that he and Elizabeth would have a special baby boy named John. He would grow up to be strong and tell people all about Jesus. This bedtime story from the Bible shows us that miracles can happen when we believe in God's promises.

🥣 Elijah and the Never-Ending Food

Have you ever been super, super hungry? The prophet Elijah was once hiding out, running away from some mean people. He felt all alone and tired. God sent birds to bring him food, and after that, a kind widow shared what little she had left with him. God made sure that her jar of flour and jug of oil never ran out during a time of hunger, showing just how caring and powerful He is!

🤔 Job Learns Patience During Hard Times

Job was a man who always loved and followed God. One day, he lost everything and felt really confused because he hadn't done anything wrong. Job's friends told him maybe God was punishing him, but Job knew better. He didn't give up on God, he waited patiently, and in the end, God gave him back even more blessings than before. This bedtime story from the Bible teaches us to stay strong and trust God, especially when things are tough.

🤝 Ruth Sticks with Her Friend

Ruth's husband died, and she wanted to take care of her friend Naomi, who was his mom. They set off together to Naomi's home country. Ruth worked hard in the fields to gather food, even though she was new there. Eventually, a kind man named Boaz noticed her, and they eventually got married! But the best part is Ruth stayed loyal to Naomi. Just like Ruth, this bedtime story from the Bible teaches us to be faithful friends even when life changes.

Summary of the entire stories

1. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - Genesis 2:4–3:24 (ESV) - God made a beautiful garden for Adam and Eve and gave them one rule; when they disobeyed after being tricked by a serpent, sin entered the world, but God still cared for them and promised hope.
2. Noah’s Ark and the Big Flood - Genesis 6:9–9:17 (ESV) - God told Noah to build a huge ark to save his family and animals from a great flood; after the waters, God set a rainbow as a promise to never flood the whole earth again.
3. Baby Moses and the Floating Basket - Exodus 2:1–10 (ESV) - To keep him safe, Moses’ mother floated him in a basket on the river; Pharaoh’s daughter found him and he grew up to play a big part in God’s rescue of His people.
4. Joshua and the Walls of Jericho - Joshua 6 (ESV) - Joshua followed God’s unusual plan to march, blow trumpets, and shout; the city walls fell and God’s people saw that trusting Him can bring victory.
5. Ruth Stays Loyal to Naomi - Ruth 1–4 (ESV) - Ruth chose to stay with her mother‑in‑law Naomi, worked faithfully, and through kindness and God’s provision she found safety and a new family.
6. David and Goliath — the Little Shepherd Who Was Brave - 1 Samuel 17 (ESV) - Young David trusted God, used a simple sling, and defeated the giant Goliath—showing that faith and courage matter more than size.
7. Daniel in the Lions’ Den - Daniel 6 (ESV) - Daniel kept praying to God despite a law against it; God shut the lions’ mouths and protected him through the night.
8. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace - Daniel 3 (ESV) - These three friends refused to bow to an idol; God kept them safe in a blazing furnace, showing He is with those who trust Him.
9. Elijah and the Never‑Ending Meal - 1 Kings 17:8–16 (ESV) - During a famine, God provided food for Elijah through a widow whose jar of flour and jug of oil miraculously lasted until the drought ended.
10. Jonah and the Big Fish - Jonah 1–2 (ESV) - Jonah tried to run from God, was swallowed by a great fish, prayed for help from inside, and was given a second chance to follow God’s plan.
11. Joseph and His Coat of Many Colors - Genesis 37; 39–45 (ESV) - Sold by his jealous brothers, Joseph rose from hardship to leadership in Egypt, showing how God can bring good out of bad situations.
12. Esther, Brave Queen Who Saved Her People - Esther 4–8 (ESV) - Queen Esther courageously spoke to the king to protect her people, teaching bravery, prayer, and wise action.
13. The Good Samaritan — Help Everyone in Need - Luke 10:25–37 (ESV) - A traveler is helped by a Samaritan when others pass by; the story reminds us to show compassion to everyone, not just friends.
14. Jesus Feeds the 5,000 — Sharing and Miracles - John 6:1–14; Mark 6:30–44 (ESV) - With a few loaves and fish, Jesus fed thousands, teaching God’s power and the blessing of sharing what we have.
15. Jesus Walks on Water and Calms the Storm - Matthew 14:22–33 (ESV) - Jesus walked to His friends on the stormy lake and stilled the waves, showing He can calm our fears when we trust Him.
16. Eutychus Falls from a Window (Paul’s Miracle) - Acts 20:7–12 (ESV) - A young man falls asleep, tumbles from a third‑story window, and is restored to life by Paul—showing care and God’s power in the early church.
17. Paul’s Conversion and Mission — From Follower to Messenger - Acts 9:1–22; Acts 13–28 (ESV) - Paul met Jesus in a surprising way, changed his heart, and then traveled widely to tell others about God’s love and forgiveness.
18. Jesus’ Birth — The Baby in the Manger - Luke 2:1–20 (ESV) - Baby Jesus was born in a humble stable, visited by shepherds and wise men, bringing joy and the message that God loves the world.
19. The Boy Who Became King (David as Youth) — God Looks at the Heart - 1 Samuel 16–17 (ESV) - Chosen by God while still a shepherd, David’s faith and heart made him a future king and a model of trusting God early in life.
20. Job Learns Patience and Trust - Job 1–42 (ESV) - Job suffered great losses yet kept clinging to God; after patience and honest struggle, God restored him and honored his faithfulness.