34 Bible Verses about Marriage

"The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,

But I tell you that every man who puts away his wife except on the ground of unfaithfulness causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries her when so divorced commits adultery.

But to those already married my instructions are--yet not mine, but the Lord's--that a wife is not to leave her husband; or if she has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away his wife.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cling to his wife,

What, therefore, God has joined together let not man separate."

Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

A deacon must be true to his one wife, and rule his children and his own household wisely and well.

I would therefore have the younger women marry, bear children, rule in domestic matters, and furnish the Adversary with no excuse for slander.

Married men, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up to death for her;

Married men, in the same way, live with your wives with a clear recognition of the fact that they are weaker than you. Yet, since you are heirs with them of God's free gift of Life, treat them with honour; so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Married men, be affectionate to your wives, and do not treat them harshly.

Let us rejoice and triumph and give Him the glory; for the time for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready."

"So they went to buy. But meanwhile the bridegroom came; those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them the members of a prostitute? No, indeed. Or do you not know that a man who has to do with a prostitute is one with her in body? For God says, "The two shall become one."

"Have you not read," He replied, "that He who made them 'made them' from the beginning 'male and female, and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one'? Thus they are no longer two, but 'one'! What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

but from the beginning of the creation the rule was, 'Male and female did God make them. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cling to his wife, and the two shall be one'; so that they are two no longer, but 'one.' read more.
What, therefore, God has joined together let not man separate."

So too married men ought to love their wives as much as they love themselves. He who loves his wife loves himself. For never yet has a man hated his own body. On the contrary he feeds and cherishes it, just as Christ feeds and cherishes the Church; because we are, as it were, parts of His Body. read more.
"For this reason a man is to leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be as one."

But I tell you that every man who puts away his wife except on the ground of unfaithfulness causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries her when so divorced commits adultery.

But to those already married my instructions are--yet not mine, but the Lord's--that a wife is not to leave her husband; or if she has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away his wife.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cling to his wife,

What, therefore, God has joined together let not man separate."

But I tell you that every man who puts away his wife except on the ground of unfaithfulness causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries her when so divorced commits adultery.

But to those already married my instructions are--yet not mine, but the Lord's--that a wife is not to leave her husband; or if she has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away his wife.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cling to his wife,

What, therefore, God has joined together let not man separate."

Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

A deacon must be true to his one wife, and rule his children and his own household wisely and well.

I would therefore have the younger women marry, bear children, rule in domestic matters, and furnish the Adversary with no excuse for slander.

Let us rejoice and triumph and give Him the glory; for the time for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready." And she was permitted to array herself in fine linen, shining and spotless; the fine linen being the righteous actions of God's people. And he said to me, "Write as follows: 'Blessed are those who receive an invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.'" And he added, still addressing me, "These are truly the words of God."

Married women, submit to your own husbands as if to the Lord;

Married women, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

I now deal with the subjects mentioned in your letter. It is well for a man to abstain altogether from marriage. But because there is so much fornication every man should have a wife of his own, and every woman should have a husband. Let a man pay his wife her due, and let a woman also pay her husband his.

Married women, in the same way, be submissive to your husbands, so that even if some of them disbelieve the Message, they may, apart from the Message, be won over by the daily life of their wives, after watching your daily life-- so full of reverence, and so blameless! Your adornment ought not to be a merely outward thing--one of plaiting the hair, putting on jewelry, or wearing beautiful dresses. read more.
Instead of that, it should be a new nature within--the imperishable ornament of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is indeed precious in the sight of God. For in ancient times also this was the way the holy women who set their hopes upon God used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their husbands. Thus, for instance, Sarah obeyed Abraham, acknowledging his authority over her. And you have become Sarah's children if you do what is right and permit nothing whatever to terrify you.

"Teacher," they said, "Moses enjoined, 'If a man die childless, his brother shall marry his widow, and raise up a family for him.'

"Rabbi, Moses made it a law for us that if a man's brother should die, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.

And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery."

"It was also said, 'If any man puts away his wife, let him give her a written notice of divorce.' But I tell you that every man who puts away his wife except on the ground of unfaithfulness causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries her when so divorced commits adultery.

He replied, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman, commits adultery against the first wife; and if a woman puts away her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

Every man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries her when so divorced from her husband commits adultery.

Brethren, do you not know--for I am writing to people acquainted with the Law--that it is during our lifetime that we are subject to the Law? A wife, for instance, whose husband is living is bound to him by the Law; but if her husband dies the law that bound her to him has now no hold over her. This accounts for the fact that if during her husband's life she lives with another man, she will be stigmatized as an adulteress; but that if her husband is dead she is no longer under the old prohibition, and even though she marries again, she is not an adulteress.

I would therefore have the younger women marry, bear children, rule in domestic matters, and furnish the Adversary with no excuse for slander.

But because there is so much fornication every man should have a wife of his own, and every woman should have a husband.

Yet if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a maiden marries, she has not sinned. Such people, however, will have outward trouble. But I am for sparing you.

"Teacher," they said, "Moses enjoined, 'If a man die childless, his brother shall marry his widow, and raise up a family for him.'

There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.

Then came to Him a party of Sadducees, a sect which denies that there is any Resurrection; and they proceeded to question Him. "Rabbi," they said, "Moses made it a law for us: 'If a man's brother should die and leave a wife, but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.' There were once seven brothers, the eldest of whom married a wife, but at his death left no family. read more.
The second married her, and died, leaving no family; and the third did the same. And so did the rest of the seven, all dying childless. Finally the woman also died. At the Resurrection whose wife will she be? For they all seven married her." "Is not this the cause of your error," replied Jesus--"your ignorance alike of the Scriptures and of the power of God? For when they have risen from among the dead, men do not marry and women are not given in marriage, but they are as angels are in Heaven. But as to the dead, that they rise to life, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' He is not the God of dead, but of living men. You are in grave error."

On the same day a party of Sadducees came to Him, contending that there is no resurrection. And they put this case to Him. "Teacher," they said, "Moses enjoined, 'If a man die childless, his brother shall marry his widow, and raise up a family for him.' Now we had among us seven brothers. The eldest of them married, but died childless, leaving his wife to his brother. read more.
So also did the second and the third, down to the seventh, till the woman also died, after surviving them all. At the Resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? for they all married her." The reply of Jesus was, "You are in error, through ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God. For in the Resurrection, men neither marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in Heaven. But as to the Resurrection of the dead, have you never read what God says to you, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of dead, but of living men."

Next some of the Sadducees came forward (who deny that there is a Resurrection) "Rabbi, Moses made it a law for us that if a man's brother should die, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first of them took a wife and died childless. read more.
The second and the third also took her; and all seven, having done the same, left no children when they died. Finally the woman also died. The woman, then--at the Resurrection--whose wife shall she be? for they all seven married her." "The men of this age," replied Jesus, "marry, and the women are given in marriage. But as for those who shall have been deemed worthy to find a place in that other age and in the Resurrection from among the dead, the men do not marry and the women are not given in marriage. For indeed they cannot die again; they are like angels, and are sons of God through being sons of the Resurrection. But that the dead rise to life even Moses clearly implies in the passage about the Bush, where he calls the Lord 'The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not a God of dead, but of living men, for to Him are all living."

A wife, for instance, whose husband is living is bound to him by the Law; but if her husband dies the law that bound her to him has now no hold over her. This accounts for the fact that if during her husband's life she lives with another man, she will be stigmatized as an adulteress; but that if her husband is dead she is no longer under the old prohibition, and even though she marries again, she is not an adulteress.

Thus they are no longer two, but 'one'! What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

A woman is bound to her husband during the whole period that he lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, provided that he is a Christian.

"The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son, and sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding, but they were unwilling to come.

"Now the king came in to see the guests; and among them he discovered one who was not wearing a wedding-robe. "'My friend,' he said, 'how is it that you came in here without a wedding robe?'

Concerning unmarried women I have no command to give you from the Lord; but I offer you my opinion, which is that of a man who, through the Lord's mercy, is deserving of your confidence. I think then that, taking into consideration the distress which is now upon us, it is well for a man to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to get free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife. read more.
Yet if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a maiden marries, she has not sinned. Such people, however, will have outward trouble. But I am for sparing you. Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use the world as not using it to the full. For the world as it now exists is passing away. And I would have you free from worldly anxiety. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord's business--how he shall please the Lord; but a married man concerns himself with the business of the world--how he shall please his wife. There is a difference too between a married and an unmarried woman. She who is unmarried concerns herself with the Lord's business--that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman concerns herself with the business of the world--how she shall please her husband. Thus much I say in your own interest; not to lay a trap for you, but to help towards what is becoming, and enable you to wait on the Lord without distraction. If, however, a father thinks he is acting unbecomingly towards his still unmarried daughter if she be past the bloom of her youth, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin; she and her suitor should be allowed to marry. But if a father stands firm in his resolve, being free from all external constraint and having a legal right to act as he pleases, and in his own mind has come to the decision to keep his daughter unmarried, he will do well. So that he who gives his daughter in marriage does well, and yet he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

Thus much in the way of concession, not of command. Yet I would that everybody lived as I do; but each of us has his own special gift from God--one in one direction and one in another. But I tell the unmarried, and women who are widows, that it is well for them to remain as I am. read more.
If, however, they cannot maintain self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.

Brethren, do you not know--for I am writing to people acquainted with the Law--that it is during our lifetime that we are subject to the Law? A wife, for instance, whose husband is living is bound to him by the Law; but if her husband dies the law that bound her to him has now no hold over her. This accounts for the fact that if during her husband's life she lives with another man, she will be stigmatized as an adulteress; but that if her husband is dead she is no longer under the old prohibition, and even though she marries again, she is not an adulteress.

A woman is bound to her husband during the whole period that he lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, provided that he is a Christian. But in my judgement, her state is a more enviable one if she remains as she is; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.

That is a great truth hitherto kept secret: I mean the truth concerning Christ and the Church.

because a husband is the Head of his wife as Christ also is the Head of the Church, being indeed the Saviour of this His Body. And just as the Church submits to Christ, so also married women should be entirely submissive to their husbands.

"Why then," said they, "did Moses command the husband to give her 'a written notice of divorce,' and so put her away?" "Moses," He replied, "in consideration of the hardness of your nature permitted you to put away your wives, but it has not been so from the beginning.

"Teacher," they said, "Moses enjoined, 'If a man die childless, his brother shall marry his widow, and raise up a family for him.'

"If any one is coming to me who does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be a disciple of mine.

And whoever has forsaken houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands, for my sake, shall receive many times as much and shall have as his inheritance the Life of the Ages.

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; and the bridegroom's friend who stands by his side and listens to him, rejoices heartily on account of the bridegroom's happiness. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

I now deal with the subjects mentioned in your letter. It is well for a man to abstain altogether from marriage. But because there is so much fornication every man should have a wife of his own, and every woman should have a husband.

The reply of Jesus was, "You are in error, through ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God. For in the Resurrection, men neither marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in Heaven.

"Is not this the cause of your error," replied Jesus--"your ignorance alike of the Scriptures and of the power of God? For when they have risen from among the dead, men do not marry and women are not given in marriage, but they are as angels are in Heaven.

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; and the bridegroom's friend who stands by his side and listens to him, rejoices heartily on account of the bridegroom's happiness. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

Concerning unmarried women I have no command to give you from the Lord; but I offer you my opinion, which is that of a man who, through the Lord's mercy, is deserving of your confidence. I think then that, taking into consideration the distress which is now upon us, it is well for a man to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to get free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife. read more.
Yet if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a maiden marries, she has not sinned. Such people, however, will have outward trouble. But I am for sparing you. Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use the world as not using it to the full. For the world as it now exists is passing away. And I would have you free from worldly anxiety. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord's business--how he shall please the Lord; but a married man concerns himself with the business of the world--how he shall please his wife. There is a difference too between a married and an unmarried woman. She who is unmarried concerns herself with the Lord's business--that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman concerns herself with the business of the world--how she shall please her husband. Thus much I say in your own interest; not to lay a trap for you, but to help towards what is becoming, and enable you to wait on the Lord without distraction. If, however, a father thinks he is acting unbecomingly towards his still unmarried daughter if she be past the bloom of her youth, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin; she and her suitor should be allowed to marry. But if a father stands firm in his resolve, being free from all external constraint and having a legal right to act as he pleases, and in his own mind has come to the decision to keep his daughter unmarried, he will do well. So that he who gives his daughter in marriage does well, and yet he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

But to those already married my instructions are--yet not mine, but the Lord's--that a wife is not to leave her husband; or if she has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away his wife. To the rest it is I who speak--not the Lord. If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, let him not send her away. read more.
And a woman who has an unbelieving husband--if he consents to live with her, let her not separate from him. For, in such cases, the unbelieving husband has become--and is--holy through union with a Christian woman, and the unbelieving wife is holy through union with a Christian brother. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but in reality they have a place among God's people. If, however, the unbeliever is determined to leave, let him or her do so. Under such circumstances the Christian man or woman is no slave; God has called us to live lives of peace. For what assurance have you, O woman, as to whether you will save your husband? Or what assurance have you, O man, as to whether you will save your wife?

Let a man pay his wife her due, and let a woman also pay her husband his. A married woman is not mistress of her own person: her husband has certain rights. In the same way a married man is not master of his own person: his wife has certain rights. Do not refuse one another, unless perhaps it is just for a time and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer and may then associate again; lest the Adversary begin to tempt you because of your deficiency in self-control.

A woman is bound to her husband during the whole period that he lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, provided that he is a Christian.

But because there is so much fornication every man should have a wife of his own, and every woman should have a husband.

Married women, submit to your own husbands as if to the Lord; because a husband is the Head of his wife as Christ also is the Head of the Church, being indeed the Saviour of this His Body. And just as the Church submits to Christ, so also married women should be entirely submissive to their husbands. read more.
Married men, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up to death for her; in order to make her holy, cleansing her with the baptismal water by the word, that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle or any other defect, but to be holy and unblemished. So too married men ought to love their wives as much as they love themselves. He who loves his wife loves himself. For never yet has a man hated his own body. On the contrary he feeds and cherishes it, just as Christ feeds and cherishes the Church; because we are, as it were, parts of His Body. "For this reason a man is to leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be as one." That is a great truth hitherto kept secret: I mean the truth concerning Christ and the Church. Yet I insist that among you also, each man is to love his own wife as much as he loves himself, and let a married woman see to it that she treats her husband with respect.

So too married men ought to love their wives as much as they love themselves. He who loves his wife loves himself. For never yet has a man hated his own body. On the contrary he feeds and cherishes it, just as Christ feeds and cherishes the Church;

"The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,

"Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took their torches, did not provide themselves with oil; read more.
but the wise, besides their torches, took oil in their flasks. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there is a loud cry, "'The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!' "Then all those bridesmaids roused themselves and trimmed their torches. "'Give us some of your oil,' said the foolish ones to the wise, 'for our torches are going out.' "'But perhaps,' replied the wise, 'there will not be enough for all of us. Go to the shops rather, and buy some for yourselves.' "So they went to buy. But meanwhile the bridegroom came; those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.

The circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.

Yet I would that everybody lived as I do; but each of us has his own special gift from God--one in one direction and one in another. But I tell the unmarried, and women who are widows, that it is well for them to remain as I am.

Where each one stood when he was called, there, brethren, let him still stand--close to God. Concerning unmarried women I have no command to give you from the Lord; but I offer you my opinion, which is that of a man who, through the Lord's mercy, is deserving of your confidence. I think then that, taking into consideration the distress which is now upon us, it is well for a man to remain as he is. read more.
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to get free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife. Yet if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a maiden marries, she has not sinned. Such people, however, will have outward trouble. But I am for sparing you. Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use the world as not using it to the full. For the world as it now exists is passing away. And I would have you free from worldly anxiety. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord's business--how he shall please the Lord; but a married man concerns himself with the business of the world--how he shall please his wife. There is a difference too between a married and an unmarried woman. She who is unmarried concerns herself with the Lord's business--that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman concerns herself with the business of the world--how she shall please her husband. Thus much I say in your own interest; not to lay a trap for you, but to help towards what is becoming, and enable you to wait on the Lord without distraction. If, however, a father thinks he is acting unbecomingly towards his still unmarried daughter if she be past the bloom of her youth, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin; she and her suitor should be allowed to marry. But if a father stands firm in his resolve, being free from all external constraint and having a legal right to act as he pleases, and in his own mind has come to the decision to keep his daughter unmarried, he will do well. So that he who gives his daughter in marriage does well, and yet he who does not give her in marriage will do better. A woman is bound to her husband during the whole period that he lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, provided that he is a Christian. But in my judgement, her state is a more enviable one if she remains as she is; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.

"Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took their torches, did not provide themselves with oil; read more.
but the wise, besides their torches, took oil in their flasks. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there is a loud cry, "'The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!'

"'My friend,' he said, 'how is it that you came in here without a wedding robe?'

Thus they are no longer two, but 'one'! What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Two days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus also was invited and His disciples. Now the wine ran short; whereupon the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." read more.
"Leave the matter in my hands," He replied; "the time for me to act has not yet come." His mother said to the attendants, "Whatever he tells you to do, do it."