What the Bible says About Marriage

The Bible gives us a clear and precise spiritual framework for understanding and nurturing the marriage relationship in a way that honors both partners and God. Here are several verses that speak of what God’s will is about the marriage relationship between a man and a woman.

1. Genesis 2:24
   “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
   • This foundational verse emphasizes the importance of the unity and bond in marriage, highlighting the deep, integral connection between husband and wife.
2. Ephesians 5:25
   “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
   • This verse instructs husbands to love their wives with the same self-sacrificial love that Christ has for the church, setting a high standard for commitment and care within marriage.
3. Proverbs 31:10-11
   “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.”
   • This passage praises the value of a virtuous and capable wife, indicating that her presence brings trust and enrichment to her marriage.
4. 1 Corinthians 7:3-4
   “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.”
   • These verses highlight mutual respect and duty in marriage, where both spouses are called to honor and prioritize each other’s needs.
5. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
   “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
   • This passage reflects on the companionship and support that marriage offers, showing how spouses can benefit from and uplift one another in times of need.
6. Ephesians 5:33
   “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
   • This verse underscores the reciprocal nature of marital relationships, advocating for love and respect as cornerstone virtues that sustain a healthy marriage.
7. Matthew 19:4-6
   “He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.’”
   • Jesus reiterates the sacredness and permanence of the marital relationship, emphasizing that it should not be easily dissolved.
8. Colossians 3:18-19
   “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”
   • This directive encourages a balance of respect and affection in marriage, advising husbands to treat their wives with love and not harshness, and wives to show fitting respect.
9. 1 Peter 3:7
   “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
   • Peter teaches husbands to be considerate and respectful towards their wives, recognizing them as partners in God’s grace.
10. Song of Solomon 8:6-7
    “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.”
    • This poetic verse celebrates the intense and unquenchable nature of love, which is a critical element in the covenant of marriage.
11. Malachi 2:14-15
    “But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”
    • These verses warn against faithlessness in marriage, reminding husbands of their covenant commitment and the Lord’s witness to their union.
12. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
    “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
    • Often recited in wedding ceremonies, this passage describes the true nature of love that should pervade a marriage, emphasizing patience, kindness, and endurance.
13. Hebrews 13:4
    “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
    • This verse emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the importance of fidelity within the marital relationship.
14. Ephesians 4:2-3
    “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
    • This advice, while applicable to all relationships, is particularly pertinent to marriage, calling for humility, patience, and a peaceful unity.
15. Proverbs 18:22
    “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.”
    • This proverb celebrates the blessing of finding a spouse, indicating that marriage is not only a personal joy but also a favor in the eyes of God.

These verses collectively provide a rich, spiritual framework for understanding and nurturing the marriage relationship in a way that honors both partners and God.