Of all of the Bible verses about marriage, this is probably one of my favorites – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) It’s a reminder of the blessing that marriage can be in uniting two separate people.
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Striving for a Godly Marriage
Which of these Bible verses about marriage speak to you? If you were to ask a handful of people “What is marriage?,” you would see that finding a single and true definition is quite the challenge, as there are so many different views and understandings of what exactly constitutes a marriage these days.
These differences occur from person to person for a myriad of different reasons including religious affiliation and the latest culture wars. Over the past few decades the definition of marriage has changed drastically.
But even still, everyone understands that the meaning of marriage is when two people make a commitment to share their lives with each other in a way that is recognized legally, socially and often in a religious context.
So what does the Bible have to say about marriage? For most of us the Bible is a manual on how to live this life God created and designed. There are many Bible verses about marriage and they start right from the very start. In the beginning of scripture, we get an important insight and benefit of the union of male and female on day six of creation.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply. – Genesis 1:27-28 An important aspect and blessing of marriage is when two become one to produce and multiply as God commanded.
Through the continuity of scripture, God is likened to a “husband” and his people a “bride.” The shadow of this spiritual truth is revealed in the marriage of a man and woman, as the prayer says “on earth as it is in heaven.”
This spiritual union only reaches its ideal pinnacle in a symbiotic relationship with God; one where each spouse walks with God, obeys God through His word, and prays both individually and together as a couple. When this spiritual communion wanes, difficulties often multiply and wax stronger.
My hope for you and your spouse is to seek God’s will in these Bible verses about marriage and times of refreshing will spring forth to create deeper levels of relationship with your spouse. Knowing that your husband or wife is first and foremost God’s son or daughter, should cause you to treat them with respect and dignity.
May theses Bible verses about marriage strengthen and encourage you in your relationship with your spouse. And may you build a stronger marriage based on God’s design. May He bless you abundantly for many years to come!
Old Testament Verses
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
~ Genesis 2:24
To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
~ Genesis 3:16
You shall not commit adultery.
~ Exodus 20:14
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
~ Proverbs 31:10-31
Listen to How we Make Marriage and Family a Top Priority If these Bible verses about marriage speak to you, listen to how we keep our marriage relationship one of the top priorities in our lives. This Natural Living Family podcast episode will share it all!
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.”
~ Genesis 2:18
For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
~ Malachi 2:16
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
~ Genesis 1:27
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”
~ Genesis 9:1
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
~ Psalm 91:15
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
~ Genesis 2:22-24
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
~ Proverbs 5:18-19
A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
~ Proverbs 12:4
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
~ Proverbs 18:22
Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.
~ Proverbs 20:6-7
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
~ Jeremiah 29:11
There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.
~ Proverbs 30:18-19
But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
~ Joshua 24:15
New Testament Verses
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
~ 1 Peter 4:8
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
~ Hebrews 13:4
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
~ Ecclesiastes 4:12
Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
~ Mark 10:9
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
~ Colossians 3:18
To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
~ 1 Corinthians 7:10-11
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
~Ephesians 5:22-23
Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
~ Luke 16:18
I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
~ 1 Corinthians 7:32-34
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
~ 1 Peter 3:1-2
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
~ Ephesians 5:31-32
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.
~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
~ 1 Corinthians 7:3
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
~ Romans 2:6-8
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
~ Ephesians 5:25
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
~ John 13:34-35
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
~ Philippians 4:8
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
~ Ephesians 4:2-3
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
~ Philippians 2:12-13
