39 Bible Verses about Marriage

Most Relevant Verses

Mark 12:25

For when they shall rise from the dead, neither shall they marry nor husbands take women nor women, husbands; but are as the angels who are in the heavens.

1 Corinthians 7:2-14

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence, and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife does not have authority of her own body, but the husband; and likewise also the husband does not have authority of his own body, but the wife.read more.
Do not defraud one another, except it be with mutual consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer and come together again, that Satan not tempt you for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not by commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one after this manner and another after that. I say, therefore, to the unmarried men and widowers, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they do not have the gift of continence, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife separate from her husband; and if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest I speak, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that does not believe, and she consents to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman who has a husband that does not believe and if he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

Ephesians 5:22-28

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as the Christ is head of the congregation , and it is he who gives saving health to the body. Therefore, as the congregation is subject unto the Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.read more.
Husbands, love your wives even as the Christ also loved the congregation and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her in the washing of water by the word, that he might present her glorious for himself, a congregation , not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So ought husbands to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself.

From Thematic Bible


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1 Corinthians 7:10-11

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife separate from her husband; and if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife.

More verses: Romans 7:2

Home » Marriage » Commended

1 Timothy 3:12

Let the deacons be the husbands of only one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Jeremiah 29:6

take wives and beget sons and daughters; give wives unto your sons and give husbands unto your daughters, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be multiplied there and not diminished.

Marriage » The duties of a husband

Proverbs 5:15-20

Drink waters out of thine own cistern and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of thy waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own and not for strangers with thee. read more.
Thy fountain shall be blessed; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love, without eyes for anyone else. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a woman belonging to someone else, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

More verses: 1 Corinthians 7:1-3

Marriage » Figurative of God's union with the church

Matthew 25:10

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.

More verses: Matthew 22:2 Hosea 2:19

Marriage » Wives among the israelites must be israelites

Ezra 9:12

Now, therefore, do not give your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever, that ye may be strengthened, and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your sons forever.

Ezra 9:1-2

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites, doing according to their abominations, for they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed is mingled with the peoples of the lands; and the hand of the princes and of the governors has been foremost in this trespass.

Exodus 34:16

or take of their daughters unto thy sons, and when their daughters go fornicating after their gods they shall make thy sons also fornicate after their gods.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other gods; and the anger of the LORD will be kindled upon you and destroy thee suddenly.

1 Chronicles 23:22

And Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters and their brethren, the sons of Kish, took them as wives.

Marriage » Who not to marry

Nehemiah 13:23-27

In those days I also saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab; and their sons spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and according to the language of each people; for they could not speak in the Jews' language. And I contended with them and cursed them and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. read more.
Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless, strange women caused even him to offend. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange women?

Ezra 9:1-2

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites, doing according to their abominations, for they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed is mingled with the peoples of the lands; and the hand of the princes and of the governors has been foremost in this trespass.

Deuteronomy 7:1-4

When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land into which thou must enter to inherit it and has cast out many Gentiles before thee, the Hittite and the Girgashite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; and when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them nor show mercy unto them. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. read more.
For they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other gods; and the anger of the LORD will be kindled upon you and destroy thee suddenly.

Joshua 23:1-12

And it came to pass many days after the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. And Joshua called for all Israel and for their elders and for their princes and for their judges and for their officers and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age; and ye have seen all that the LORD your God has done with all these Gentiles in your presence; for the LORD your God has fought for you. read more.
Behold, I have divided unto you as inheritance unto your tribes all these Gentiles, those that remain as well as those that are destroyed, from the Jordan unto the great sea towards the going down of the sun. And the LORD your God, shall expel them from before you and drive them from out of your presence; and ye shall possess their lands, as the LORD your God has promised unto you. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses without turning aside to the right hand or to the left that ye not enter in among these Gentiles that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them, but cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day. For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong Gentiles; and until now no one has been able to stand before your face. One man of you has chased a thousand; for the LORD your God, he himself has fought for you, as he has promised you. Therefore take heed for your souls that ye love the LORD your God. Because if ye do in any wise go back and cleave unto the remnant of these Gentiles that remain among you and shall make marriages with them and go in unto them and they to you,

Ezra 10:2-3

Then Shechaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have rebelled against our God and have taken strange women of the peoples of the land, but there is yet hope for Israel concerning this thing. Now, therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to send away all the women and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of the Lord and of those that fear the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

More verses: Nehemiah 10:29-30

Marriage » The reward for marrying idolaters

Nehemiah 13:23-27

In those days I also saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab; and their sons spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and according to the language of each people; for they could not speak in the Jews' language. And I contended with them and cursed them and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. read more.
Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless, strange women caused even him to offend. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange women?

1 Kings 11:1-8

But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites, of the Gentiles concerning which the LORD had said unto the sons of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. read more.
For it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David, his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the sons of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his strange wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

Exodus 34:11-16

Keep that which I command thee this day; behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Keep thyself lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where thou must enter lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee; but ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves; read more.
for thou shalt worship no other god; for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Therefore thou shalt not make a covenant with the inhabitants of that land because they shall fornicate after their gods and do sacrifice unto their gods, and they shall call thee, and thou shalt eat of their sacrifices or take of their daughters unto thy sons, and when their daughters go fornicating after their gods they shall make thy sons also fornicate after their gods.

Deuteronomy 7:1-4

When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land into which thou must enter to inherit it and has cast out many Gentiles before thee, the Hittite and the Girgashite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; and when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them nor show mercy unto them. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. read more.
For they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other gods; and the anger of the LORD will be kindled upon you and destroy thee suddenly.

Malachi 2:11-13

Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD by loving and marrying the daughter of a strange god. The LORD will cut off the man that does this, the master and the scholar out of the tabernacles of Jacob and him that offers an offering unto the LORD of the hosts. And once again ye shall cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, for I shall not even look at the offering any more to receive a free will offering from your hand.

Marriage » With the heathen forbidden

Ezra 9:12

Now, therefore, do not give your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever, that ye may be strengthened, and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your sons forever.

Genesis 28:1

Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Nehemiah 13:25

And I contended with them and cursed them and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

Deuteronomy 7:3

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Joshua 23:12

Because if ye do in any wise go back and cleave unto the remnant of these Gentiles that remain among you and shall make marriages with them and go in unto them and they to you,

More verses: Genesis 24:3

Marriage » Husbands and wives becoming one

1 Corinthians 6:15-16

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? In no wise. What? know ye not that he who is joined to the harlot is one body with her? For they shall be, saith he, two in one flesh.

Matthew 19:4-6

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female? And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh. Therefore they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

Mark 10:6-9

But at the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall join to his wife; and they that were two shall be made one flesh, so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. read more.
Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.

Ephesians 5:28-31

So ought husbands to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it even as the Lord with his congregation : For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. read more.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.

Marriage » Solemn obligations of

1 Corinthians 7:10-11

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife separate from her husband; and if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife.

More verses: Romans 7:2

Marriage » Sacred

1 Corinthians 7:10-11

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife separate from her husband; and if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife.

More verses: Romans 7:2

Marriage » Commended

1 Timothy 3:12

Let the deacons be the husbands of only one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Jeremiah 29:6

take wives and beget sons and daughters; give wives unto your sons and give husbands unto your daughters, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be multiplied there and not diminished.

Marriage » Figurative

Revelation 19:7-9

Let us be glad and rejoice and give glory to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his bride has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are those who are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true words of God.

Jeremiah 31:32

not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt because they invalidated my covenant although I was a husband unto them, said the LORD;

Hosea 2:19-20

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in mercy. I will even betroth thee unto me in faith: and thou shalt know the LORD.

Marriage » The duties of a wife

1 Corinthians 7:1-3

Now concerning the things of which ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence, and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

1 Peter 3:1-6

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that also those who do not obey the Word, may be won without a word by the conversation of their wives, considering your chaste conversation which is in fear. Let their adorning not be outward with ostentatious hairdos and wearing of gold nor in composition of apparel, read more.
but let the interior adorning of the heart be without corruption, and of an agreeable spirit and peaceful, which is precious in the sight of God. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who waited upon God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands, as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, of whom ye are made daughters, doing well and not being afraid of any terror.

Marriage » Levirate (the brother required to marry a brother's widow)

Deuteronomy 25:5-10

When brethren dwell together and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside unto a stranger; her husband's brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her. And it shall be that the firstborn which she bears shall be raised up in the name of his brother who is dead that his name be not blotted out of Israel. And if the man does not desire to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders and say, My husband's brother refuses to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. read more.
Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak unto him, and if he stands and says, I desire not to take her; then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders and loose his shoe from off his foot and spit in his face and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that is barefoot.

Luke 20:28

saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed unto his brother.

Genesis 38:11

Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at thy father's house until Shelah, my son, is grown; for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

More verses: Ruth 4:5 Mark 12:19-23

Marriage » Those that remarry or marry those who have been divorced

Matthew 5:31-32

It was also said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce; but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery.

Mark 10:11-12

And he said unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another commits adultery against her. And if the woman shall put away her husband and be married to another, she commits adultery.

Luke 16:18

Whosoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whosoever marries her that is put away of her husband commits adultery.

Romans 7:1-3

Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to those that know the law), that the law has dominion over a man only as long as he lives? For the woman who is subject to a husband is obligated to the law so long as the husband lives; but if the husband dies, she is free from the law of the husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she belongs to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law so that she is no adulteress if she belongs to another man.

Marriage » Modes of demanding women in

Genesis 24:3

and I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of the heavens and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell;

Genesis 34:6

And Hamor, the father of Shechem, went out unto Jacob to speak with him.

Genesis 34:8

And Hamor spoke with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem is joined to your daughter; I pray you give her to him as wife.

1 Samuel 25:39-40

And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD that judged the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept his slave from evil, for the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent word unto Abigail to take her to him to wife. And when the slaves of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke with her, saying, David sent us unto thee to take thee to him to wife.

Marriage » Lawful in all

Marriage » Of kinsman's widow

Deuteronomy 25:5

When brethren dwell together and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside unto a stranger; her husband's brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her.

Ruth 3:9

Then he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth, thy handmaid; spread therefore the edge of thy mantle over thy handmaid; for thou art a redeemer.

Ruth 4:10

Moreover, I also take Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance that the name of the dead not be cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place. Ye shall be witnesses of this today.

Marriage » The jews » Often contracted, in their own tribe

Luke 1:5

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Luke 1:27

to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David and the virgin's name was Mary.

Exodus 2:1

And a man of the house of Levi went and took to wife a daughter of Levi,

Numbers 36:6-13

This is the thing which the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry as they desire; but they shall marry only within the family of the tribe of their father so that the inheritance of the sons of Israel shall not be passed from tribe to tribe; for each one of the sons of Israel shall cleave to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. And any daughter, that possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the sons of Israel, shall marry one of the family of the tribe of her father so that each man of the sons of Israel may possess the inheritance of his fathers. read more.
So that the inheritance shall not change from one tribe to another tribe, each one of the tribes of the sons of Israel shall cleave to his own inheritance. As the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad. And thus Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, married the sons of their uncles. They were women of the family of the sons of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. These are the commandments and the rights which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan of Jericho.

Marriage » Consent of the parties necessary to

1 Samuel 25:41

And she arose and bowed herself on her face to the earth and said, Behold, let thy handmaid be a slave to wash the feet of the slaves of my lord.

Genesis 24:57-58

Then they said, We will call the damsel and enquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

1 Samuel 18:20

But Michal, Saul's other daughter, loved David, and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

Marriage » A dowry given to the woman's parents before

1 Samuel 18:27-28

Therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them all to the king that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal, his daughter, to wife. But Saul, seeing and knowing that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him,

Marriage » Who does not marry

Mark 12:18-27

Then come unto him the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother dies and leaves his wife behind him and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren, and the first took a wife and dying left no seed. read more.
And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed; and the third likewise. And the seven had her and left no seed; last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection, therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. Then Jesus, answering, said unto them, Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, neither shall they marry nor husbands take women nor women, husbands; but are as the angels who are in the heavens. And regarding the dead who are to rise, have ye not read in the book of Moses how in the bush God spoke unto him, saying, I Am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead, but God of the living; ye therefore do greatly err.

Matthew 22:23-32

The same day the Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, saying, Master, Moses said, If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers, and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no seed, left his wife unto his brother; read more.
likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Then Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which is spoken unto you by God, who saith, I AM the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Luke 20:27-38

Then certain of the Sadducees came, who deny that there is any resurrection, and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. There were therefore seven brethren, and the first took a wife and died without children. read more.
And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also, and they left no children and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are accounted worthy to obtain that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry, nor are given in marriage; for neither can they die any more, for they are equal unto the angels and are the sons of God, being the sons of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed this at the bush when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him.

Marriage » Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties

Romans 7:2-3

For the woman who is subject to a husband is obligated to the law so long as the husband lives; but if the husband dies, she is free from the law of the husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she belongs to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law so that she is no adulteress if she belongs to another man.

Marriage » The jews » Betrothed themselves some time before

Judges 14:5

Then Samson went down with his father and his mother to Timnath, and when they came to the vineyards of Timnath, behold, a young lion came roaring against him.

Deuteronomy 20:7

And what man is there that has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go and return unto his house lest peradventure he die in the battle and another man take her.

Judges 14:7-8

And he went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside from the way to see the carcase of the lion; and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.

Marriage » The jews » Often punished by being debarred from

Jeremiah 7:34

Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.

Jeremiah 16:9

For thus hath the LORD of the hosts, the God of Israel said: Behold, I will cause to cease in this place before your eyes and in your days, every voice of mirth and every voice of gladness, every voice of the bridegroom, and every voice of the bride.

Jeremiah 25:10

And I will cause them to lose the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.

Marriage » Presents given to parents to secure their favor

Genesis 24:53

And the slave brought forth vessels of silver and vessels of gold and raiment and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

Hosea 3:2

So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and an homer and a half of barley:

Deuteronomy 22:29

then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver and she shall be his wife; because he has humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

1 Samuel 18:25

And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The desire of the king is not in any dowry, but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. For Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

Marriage » Often contracted by parents for children

Genesis 34:6

And Hamor, the father of Shechem, went out unto Jacob to speak with him.

Genesis 34:8

And Hamor spoke with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem is joined to your daughter; I pray you give her to him as wife.

Genesis 24:49-51

And now if ye will deal in mercy and truth with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from the LORD; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee; take her and go and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD has spoken.

Marriage » Celebrated » With feasting

Judges 14:10

So his father went down unto the woman; and Samson made a banquet there, for the young men used to do so.

Matthew 22:2-3

The kingdom of the heavens is like unto a certain man, a king, who made a marriage feast for his son and sent forth his slaves to call those that were invited to the wedding, and they would not come.

Marriage » The bride » Given a handmaid at

Genesis 29:29

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid.

Genesis 24:59

So they sent away Rebekah, their sister, and her nurse and Abraham's slave and his men.

Genesis 29:24

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, for a handmaid.

Marriage » Contracted in patriarchal age with near relations

Genesis 24:24

And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she gave birth unto Nahor.

Genesis 28:2

Arise, go to Padanaram to the house of Bethuel, thy mother's father, and take thee a wife from there of the daughters of Laban, thy mother's brother.

Genesis 20:12

And yet indeed, she is also my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

Marriage » Illustrative of » God's union with the jewish nation

Hosea 2:19-20

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in mercy. I will even betroth thee unto me in faith: and thou shalt know the LORD.

Marriage » Nuptial feasts

Esther 2:18

Then the king made a great banquet unto all his princes and his slaves, the banquet of Esther; and he made a release to the provinces of their taxes and gave gifts according to the power of the king.

Judges 14:12

unto whom Samson said, I will now put forth an enigma unto you, which if ye can declare it and discover it to me within the seven days of the banquet, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments.

Matthew 22:11-12

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who did not have on a wedding garment, and he said unto him, Friend, how didst thou come in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Marriage » Those that marry

1 Corinthians 7:25-38

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my advice, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I hold, therefore, this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to be thus: Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. read more.
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have affliction in the flesh, but I forbear you. But this I say, brothers, the time is short; for the rest, let those that have wives be as though they had none; and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; and those that use this world, as not using it as their own, for the fashion of this world passes away. But I would have you without worry. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is honourable and that ye may attend upon the Lord without impediment. But if anyone thinks it uncomely regarding his daughter, if she passes the bloom of life, and need so requires, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry. Nevertheless, he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has liberty regarding his own, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his daughter, does well. So then he that gives her in marriage does well, but he that does not give her in marriage does better.

Marriage » Who should get married

Exodus 22:16-17

If a man should entice a virgin that is not betrothed and lie with her, he shall surely endow her and take her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

1 Corinthians 7:6-9

But I speak this by permission, and not by commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one after this manner and another after that. I say, therefore, to the unmarried men and widowers, It is good for them if they abide even as I. read more.
But if they do not have the gift of continence, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.

Marriage » How long wives are bound to their husbands

Romans 7:1-3

Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to those that know the law), that the law has dominion over a man only as long as he lives? For the woman who is subject to a husband is obligated to the law so long as the husband lives; but if the husband dies, she is free from the law of the husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she belongs to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law so that she is no adulteress if she belongs to another man.

1 Corinthians 7:39-40

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free and may be married to whom she will, if it is in the Lord. But she shall be more blessed if she so abides, after my counsel, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Marriage » Illustrative of » Christ's union with his church

Ephesians 5:23-24

For the husband is the head of the wife even as the Christ is head of the congregation , and it is he who gives saving health to the body. Therefore, as the congregation is subject unto the Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Marriage » Wives obtained » By purchase

Hosea 3:2

So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and an homer and a half of barley:

Hosea 12:12

But Jacob fled into the land of Aram, and Israel served for his wife, and for his wife he was a pastor.

Ruth 4:10

Moreover, I also take Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance that the name of the dead not be cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place. Ye shall be witnesses of this today.

Marriage » The jews » Were allowed divorce from, because of hardness of their hearts

Matthew 19:7-8

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a bill of divorce and to put her away? He said unto them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

Deuteronomy 24:1

When a man has taken a wife and married her, and it comes to pass that she finds no favour in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her; then let him write her a bill of divorce and give it in her hand and send her out of his house.

Marriage » The jews » Obliged to contract with a brother's wife who died without seed

Deuteronomy 25:5

When brethren dwell together and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside unto a stranger; her husband's brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her.

Marriage » Obligations under, inferior to duty to God

Deuteronomy 13:6-10

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosom or thy friend who is as thine own soul should entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou nor thy fathers have known, namely, of the gods of the peoples who are round about you, near unto thee or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth, thou shalt not consent with him nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him; neither shalt thou have compassion; neither shalt thou conceal him, read more.
but thou must kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou must stone him with stones, and he shall die because he has sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt from the house of slavery;

Marriage » Parents might refuse to give their children in

Deuteronomy 7:3

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Exodus 22:17

If her father utterly refuses to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

Marriage » The jews » Careful in contracting for their children

Genesis 24:2

And Abraham said unto his eldest slave of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh,

Genesis 28:1-2

Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padanaram to the house of Bethuel, thy mother's father, and take thee a wife from there of the daughters of Laban, thy mother's brother.

Marriage » The jews » Often contracted with foreigners

1 Kings 11:1

But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites,

Nehemiah 13:23

In those days I also saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab;

Marriage » Celibacy deplored

Isaiah 4:1

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach.

Jeremiah 16:9

For thus hath the LORD of the hosts, the God of Israel said: Behold, I will cause to cease in this place before your eyes and in your days, every voice of mirth and every voice of gladness, every voice of the bridegroom, and every voice of the bride.

Judges 11:38

And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months, and she went with her companions and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

Marriage » Should be with consent of parents

Genesis 28:8

and Esau, seeing that the daughters of Canaan did not please Isaac his father,

Judges 14:2-3

And he came up and told his father and his mother, saying, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore get her for me to wife. Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren or among all my people that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleases me well.

Marriage » A benediction pronounced after

Ruth 4:11-12

And all the people that were in the gate and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, who built the house of Israel; and be thou a man of valour in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem; let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

Genesis 24:60

And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, Thou art our sister; be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those who hate them.

Marriage » Expressed by » Giving daughters to sons, and sons to daughters

Ezra 9:12

Now, therefore, do not give your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever, that ye may be strengthened, and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your sons forever.

Deuteronomy 7:3

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Marriage » The bride » Adorned with jewels for

Isaiah 49:18

Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thyself with them all, as with a garment of honour and shalt be girded by them as a bride.

Marriage » The jews » Sometimes guilty of polygamy

1 Kings 11:1

But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites,

Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah

Genesis 11:29

And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves; the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah.

Genesis 20:3

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, Behold, thou art a dead man, for the woman whom thou hast taken, for she is a man's wife.

Genesis 12:13

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 20:9-16

Then Abimelech called Abraham and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us and in what have I sinned against thee that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom such a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What didst thou see that thou hast done this thing? And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me for my wife's sake. read more.
And yet indeed, she is also my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. And it came to pass when God caused me to wander from my father's house that I said unto her, This is the mercy which thou shalt show unto me: at every place where we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and menslaves and womenslaves and gave them unto Abraham and restored him Sarah his wife. And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee; dwell where it pleases thee. And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that were with thee and with everyone: thus she was reproved.

Marriage » Designed for » Increasing the species

Marriage » Celebrated » With great rejoicing

Jeremiah 33:11

the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of those that shall say, Praise the LORD of the hosts; for the LORD is good; for his mercy endures for ever: and of those that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captivity of the land to turn as at the first, said the LORD.

Marriage » Promised » Seed

Marriage » Daughters given in, as rewards of valor

1 Samuel 17:25

And each one of the men of Israel were saying, Have ye seen this man that is come up? He is come up to dishonour Israel. It shall be that the king will enrich the man who overcomes him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel.

Judges 1:12

And Caleb said, He that smites Kirjathsepher and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

1 Samuel 18:27

Therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them all to the king that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal, his daughter, to wife.

Marriage » Why you should get married

1 Corinthians 7:1-2

Now concerning the things of which ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Marriage » Not binding after death

Matthew 22:29-30

Then Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Mark 12:24-25

Then Jesus, answering, said unto them, Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, neither shall they marry nor husbands take women nor women, husbands; but are as the angels who are in the heavens.

Marriage » The bridegroom » Attended by many friends

Judges 14:11

And when they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him,

Marriage » The jews » Contracted when young

Marriage » Those that do not marry

1 Corinthians 7:25-38

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my advice, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I hold, therefore, this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to be thus: Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. read more.
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have affliction in the flesh, but I forbear you. But this I say, brothers, the time is short; for the rest, let those that have wives be as though they had none; and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; and those that use this world, as not using it as their own, for the fashion of this world passes away. But I would have you without worry. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is honourable and that ye may attend upon the Lord without impediment. But if anyone thinks it uncomely regarding his daughter, if she passes the bloom of life, and need so requires, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry. Nevertheless, he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has liberty regarding his own, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his daughter, does well. So then he that gives her in marriage does well, but he that does not give her in marriage does better.

Marriage » Unbelieving spouses

1 Corinthians 7:10-16

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife separate from her husband; and if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest I speak, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that does not believe, and she consents to dwell with him, let him not put her away. read more.
And the woman who has a husband that does not believe and if he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbelieving spouse separates, let them separate. The brother or the sister is not under slavery in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Marriage » The bridegroom » Crowned with garlands

Song of Songs 3:11

Go forth, O ye virgins of Zion, and behold King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Marriage » Ceremony attested by witnesses

Ruth 4:1-11

And Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and, behold, the redeemer of whom Boaz spoke came by unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! Come here and sit down. And he came and sat down. Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, Sit down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the redeemer, Naomi, that is come again out of the field of Moab, sold a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's, read more.
and I decided to cause thee to know this and tell thee to take it before the inhabitants and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it, but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me that I may know, for there is no one to redeem it besides thee, and I after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. Then Boaz replied, The day that thou dost receive the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must also receive Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the redeemer said, I cannot redeem it for myself lest I ruin my own inheritance; redeem thou; I cede my right to you, for I shall not be able to redeem it. Now for a long time in Israel there had been this custom concerning redemption or contracts, that for the confirmation of all matters: one plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbour, and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore, the former owner of the right of redemption said unto Boaz, Buy it thyself. So he drew off his shoe. And Boaz said unto the elders and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover, I also take Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance that the name of the dead not be cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place. Ye shall be witnesses of this today. And all the people that were in the gate and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, who built the house of Israel; and be thou a man of valour in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem;

Isaiah 8:1-3

Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take a great roll and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalal-hashbaz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. And I went unto the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

Marriage » Infidelity of those contracted in, punished as if married

Deuteronomy 22:23-24

When a damsel that is a virgin is betrothed unto a husband and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones, and they shall die; the damsel because she did not cry out, being in the city, and the man because he has humbled his neighbour's wife; so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

Marriage » The rights of marriage

1 Corinthians 7:3-5

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence, and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife does not have authority of her own body, but the husband; and likewise also the husband does not have authority of his own body, but the wife. Do not defraud one another, except it be with mutual consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer and come together again, that Satan not tempt you for your incontinency.

Marriage » Bridal ornaments

Isaiah 49:18

Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thyself with them all, as with a garment of honour and shalt be girded by them as a bride.

Marriage » Given by kings

1 Samuel 17:25

And each one of the men of Israel were saying, Have ye seen this man that is come up? He is come up to dishonour Israel. It shall be that the king will enrich the man who overcomes him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel.

1 Samuel 18:17

And Saul said to David, Behold I will give thee my elder daughter Merab to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said to himself, My hand shall not be against him, but the hand of the Philistines shall be against him.

1 Samuel 18:21

And Saul said, I will give her to him that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore, Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law with the other one.

Marriage » Bridal presents

Genesis 24:53

And the slave brought forth vessels of silver and vessels of gold and raiment and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

Psalm 45:12

And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

Marriage » Isaac and rebekah

Genesis 28:2

Arise, go to Padanaram to the house of Bethuel, thy mother's father, and take thee a wife from there of the daughters of Laban, thy mother's brother.

Genesis 24:67

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent and took Rebekah as his wife; and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Genesis 24:3-4

and I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of the heavens and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but thou shalt go unto my country and to my kindred and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

Marriage » Should be only in the lord

Marriage » Designed for » Preventing fornication

Marriage » The jews » Forbidden to contract with idolaters

Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other gods; and the anger of the LORD will be kindled upon you and destroy thee suddenly.

Marriage » What marriage is analogous to

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as the Christ is head of the congregation , and it is he who gives saving health to the body. Therefore, as the congregation is subject unto the Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. read more.
Husbands, love your wives even as the Christ also loved the congregation and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her in the washing of water by the word, that he might present her glorious for himself, a congregation , not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So ought husbands to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it even as the Lord with his congregation : For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the congregation . Nevertheless, let each one of you do likewise, let each one so love his wife even as himself, and let the wife see that she reverences her husband.

Marriage » Those that love their wife

Ephesians 5:28-29

So ought husbands to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it even as the Lord with his congregation :

Marriage » Figurative » Parables from

Matthew 25:1-10

Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be likened unto ten virgins who, taking their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were prudent, and five were foolish. Those that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them; read more.
but the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the prudent, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the prudent answered, saying, Lest there be not enough for us and you, but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.

Marriage » The jews » Exempted from going to war immediately after

Deuteronomy 20:7

And what man is there that has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go and return unto his house lest peradventure he die in the battle and another man take her.

Marriage » Betrothal a quasi-marriage

Luke 1:27

to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David and the virgin's name was Mary.

Marriage » Advised

1 Corinthians 7:7-8

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one after this manner and another after that. I say, therefore, to the unmarried men and widowers, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

1 Corinthians 7:24-40

Each one, brothers, in that state in which he was called, let him abide with God. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my advice, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I hold, therefore, this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to be thus: read more.
Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have affliction in the flesh, but I forbear you. But this I say, brothers, the time is short; for the rest, let those that have wives be as though they had none; and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; and those that use this world, as not using it as their own, for the fashion of this world passes away. But I would have you without worry. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is honourable and that ye may attend upon the Lord without impediment. But if anyone thinks it uncomely regarding his daughter, if she passes the bloom of life, and need so requires, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry. Nevertheless, he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has liberty regarding his own, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his daughter, does well. So then he that gives her in marriage does well, but he that does not give her in marriage does better. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free and may be married to whom she will, if it is in the Lord. But she shall be more blessed if she so abides, after my counsel, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Marriage » The high priest not to contract, with a widow or a divorced or profane person

Leviticus 21:14

A widow or a divorced woman or profane or a harlot, these he shall not take, but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

Marriage » The bridegroom » Returned with the bride to his house at night

Matthew 25:1-6

Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be likened unto ten virgins who, taking their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were prudent, and five were foolish. Those that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them; read more.
but the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet him.

Marriage » The bride » Gorgeously apparelled

Psalm 45:13-14

The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

Marriage » The jews » Forbidden to contract, with their near relations

Marriage » The contentions of a wife

Marriage » Prudent wives

Marriage » Priest not to contract, with divorced or improper person

Leviticus 21:7

They shall not take a wife that is a whore or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband; for he is holy unto his God.

Marriage » The bride » Received presents before

Genesis 24:53

And the slave brought forth vessels of silver and vessels of gold and raiment and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

Marriage » Wives taken by edict

Esther 2:2-4

Then the king's servants that ministered unto him said, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king, and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan, the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege, the king's eunuch, keeper of the women; and let them be given that which is necessary for their purification; and let the maiden which pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king, and he did so.

Esther 2:8-14

So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan, the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she found mercy before him; and he speedily gave her that which was necessary for purification and her rations, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her out of the king's house; and he moved her and her maids into the best place of the house of the women. Esther had not declared her people nor her birth, for Mordecai had charged her that she should not declare it. read more.
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house to know the peace of Esther and what was done with her. Now when each maid's turn was come to go in to King Ahasuerus, after she had been twelve months according to the law regarding the women (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, that is, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with aromatic odours and oils for women), then thus came each maiden unto the king; whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines; she came in unto the king no more, unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.

Marriage » Elder daughters usually given in, before the younger

Genesis 29:26

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country to give the younger before the firstborn.

Marriage » Garments provided for guests at

Matthew 22:12

and he said unto him, Friend, how didst thou come in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Marriage » The bridegroom » Adorned with ornaments

Marriage » Designed for » Raising up Godly seed

Malachi 2:15

And did he not make one, having in himself abundance of the Spirit? And why one? That he might seek offspring of God. Therefore take heed to your spirit and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

Marriage » Designed for » The happiness of man

Marriage » Expressed by » Joining together

Marriage » Celebrated » For seven days

Judges 14:12

unto whom Samson said, I will now put forth an enigma unto you, which if ye can declare it and discover it to me within the seven days of the banquet, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments.

Marriage » The jews » Considered being debarred from, a cause of grief

Judges 11:38

And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months, and she went with her companions and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

Marriage » What marriage is

Marriage » Early introduction of polygamy

Genesis 4:19

And Lamech took unto him two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

Marriage » Honorable for all

Marriage » Divinely instituted

Marriage » The bridegroom » Rejoiced over the bride

Marriage » The bridegroom » Presented with gifts

Psalm 45:12

And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

Marriage » Wives obtained » By kidnapping

Judges 21:21-23

and watch with care, and when you see the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come out of the vineyards, and each one of you shall rapture a wife of the daughters of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin. And when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, we will say unto them, Be merciful unto us for their sakes because in the war we did not take enough women for all of them; and you could not have given them to them, or ye should be guilty now. And the sons of Benjamin did so and took themselves wives, according to their number, rapturing them from among those that danced; and they went and returned unto their inheritance and rebuilt the cities and dwelt in them.

Marriage » Expressed by » Making affinity

1 Kings 3:1

And Solomon became a relative of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, for he took Pharaoh's daughter to wife and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house, and the house of the LORD and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

Marriage » The bride » Called to forget her father's house

Marriage » Jacob and his wives

Genesis 29:15-30

And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art of my brethren, should thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. read more.
And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man; abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled that I may go in unto her. So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a banquet. And it came to pass in the evening that he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, for a handmaid. And it came to pass that in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Why then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee the other also for another seven years of service which thou shalt serve with me. And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah and served with him yet another seven years.

Marriage » A covenant relationship

Malachi 2:4

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, said the LORD of the hosts.

Marriage » Expressed by » Taking to wife

Exodus 2:1

And a man of the house of Levi went and took to wife a daughter of Levi,

Marriage » The bride » Stood on the right of bridegroom

Psalm 45:9

Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women; the queen stands at thy right hand with a crown of gold from Ophir.

Marriage » The bride » Attended by bridesmaids

Psalm 45:9

Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women; the queen stands at thy right hand with a crown of gold from Ophir.

Marriage » The jews » Considered being debarred from, a reproach

Isaiah 4:1

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach.

Marriage » Wedding robes adorned with jewels

Marriage » Jesus present at

John 2:1-5

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also called to the marriage. And being short of wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, They have no wine. read more.
Jesus said unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? My hour is not yet come. His mother said unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Marriage » Parents contract for their children » Hagar selects a wife for ishmael

Genesis 21:21

And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.

Marriage » David gave one hundred philistine foreskins for a wife

2 Samuel 3:14

After this, David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

Marriage » Contracted at the gate and before witnesses

Ruth 4:1

And Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and, behold, the redeemer of whom Boaz spoke came by unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! Come here and sit down. And he came and sat down.

Marriage » Parents' consent requires in the mosaic law

Exodus 22:17

If her father utterly refuses to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

Marriage » Betrothal made with the spirit

Ezekiel 16:8

And I passed by thee and looked upon thee; behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my mantle over thee and covered thy shame; and I gave thee an oath and entered into a covenant with thee, said the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine;

Marriage » Parents contract for their children » Samson asks his parents to procure him a wife

Judges 14:2

And he came up and told his father and his mother, saying, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore get her for me to wife.

Marriage » The groom exempt one year from military duty

Marriage » Parents contract for their children » Laban arranges for his daughters' marriage

Marriage » Parents contract for their children » Abraham for isaac

Topics on Marriage

Giving In Marriage

Luke 20:34

And Jesus answering said unto them, The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,

Marriage Allowed

Luke 20:34

And Jesus answering said unto them, The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,

Marriage Controlled

Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manslave, nor his maidslave, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Marriage, Between God And His People

Ezekiel 16:8-14

And I passed by thee and looked upon thee; behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my mantle over thee and covered thy shame; and I gave thee an oath and entered into a covenant with thee, said the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine;

Marriage, Restrictions Concerning

Genesis 38:2

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah, and he took her and went in unto her.

Marriage, The Bride

Genesis 24:53

And the slave brought forth vessels of silver and vessels of gold and raiment and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

Marriages, Believers With Unbelievers

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? and what communion does light have with darkness?

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