19 Bible Verses about Singleness

For the Scripture says, "Rejoice, childless woman, who bear no children, Break into shouting, you who have no birth pains! For the desolate woman has more children than the married one!"

I should like to have everyone be just as I am myself; but each one has his own special gift from God, one of one kind, and one of another.

The disciples said to him, "If that is a man's relation to his wife, it is better not to marry!" He said to them, "It is not everyone who can accept that, but only those who have a special gift. For some are incapable of marriage from their birth, and some have been made so by men, and some have made themselves so for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let him accept it who can."

But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be on fire with passion.

Do not put young women on the list of widows, for when their youthful vigor comes between them and Christ, they want to marry, and become guilty of breaking their previous pledge. Besides, as they go about from house to house they learn to be idle, and not only idle but gossips and busybodies, and talk of things they ought not to mention.read more.
So I would have young women marry and have children and keep house and avoid giving our opponents any excuse for abusing us.

About unmarried women I have no command of the Lord to give you, but I will give you my opinion as that of one on whom through the Lord's mercy you can depend. This, then, is my opinion in view of the present distress??hat it is a good thing for a man to remain just as he is. If you are united to a wife, do not seek to be released. If you are not, do not seek a wife.read more.
But if you do marry, there is no sin in that. And if a girl marries, it is no sin. But those who marry will have worldly trouble, which I would like to spare you.

To those already married my instructions are??nd they are not mine, but the Lord's??hat a wife is not to separate from her husband.

But there is so much immorality that every man had better have a wife of his own, and every woman a husband of her own. The husband must give his wife what is due her, and the wife must do the same by her husband. A wife cannot do as she likes with her own person; it is her husband's; and in the same way a husband cannot do as he likes with his own person; it is his wife's.read more.
You must not refuse each other what is due, unless you agree to do so for a while, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then to come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control. But I mean this as a concession, not a command.

To all who are unmarried and to widows, I would say this: It is an excellent thing if they can remain single as I am.

As to the matters of which you wrote me, it is an excellent thing for a man to remain unmarried.

I want you to be free from all anxiety. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's work, and how he can please the Lord. A married man is concerned about worldly affairs, and how he can please his wife, and so his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a girl is concerned about the Lord's work, so as to be consecrated in body and spirit, but the woman who marries is concerned with worldly affairs, and how she can please her husband.read more.
It is for your benefit that I say this, not to put a halter on you, but to promote good order, and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

Another said, 'I have married, and so I cannot come.'

He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.

But a woman who is really a widow, and has no children, has fixed her hope on God, and devotes herself to prayers and entreaties night and day.

For after the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but they live as angels do in heaven.

For when people rise from the dead, there is no marrying or being married, but they live as angels do in heaven.

but those who are thought worthy to attain that other world and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are married.

But this I do say, brothers. The appointed time has grown very short. From this time on those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they did not mourn, and those who are glad as though they were not glad, and those who buy anything as though they did not own it, and those who mix in the world, as though they were not absorbed in it. For the present shape of the world is passing away.