19 Bible Verses about Singleness

For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren who bearest not, cry out and shout for joy, thou that travailest not, for more are the children of her that was desolate, than of her which had an husband."

For I would that all men were even as myself: but every man hath his peculiar gift from God, one of this sort, and another of that.

His disciples said unto him, If the case of a man with his wife be thus, it is not expedient to marry. Then he said to them, All men are not capable of receiving this saying, but they to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs, who were so from their mothers' womb; and there are eunuchs, who have been made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that is capable of receiving, let him receive it.

But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

But the younger widows reject: for when they give themselves to wantonness contrary to Christ, they will marry; incurring censure, for having violated their former engagement. And at the same time also they learn to be idle, visiting about in the houses; and not merely idle, but talkative and inquisitive, speaking things they ought not.read more.
I would therefore have the younger widows to marry, bear children, govern their house, give no occasion to the adversary to bring a reproach on them.

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I offer my opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. I think then that this is becoming, considering our present straits, that it is proper for a man to be thus. Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.read more.
But if thou shouldst marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; though such will have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.

But to the married not I command, but the Lord, That the wife be not separated from the husband:

But because of the whoredoms, let every man have his own wife, and every wife her own husband. Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence, and in like manner also the wife to the husband. The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife.read more.
Defraud not one another, except it may be by consent occasionally, that ye may have more leisure for fasting and prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence. But in this I speak my opinion only, not authoritatively.

I say then to the unmarried and the widows, that it is becoming them if they abide as I am.

NOW with regard to those things concerning which ye have written unto me, it were good for a man not to touch a woman.

But I would have you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord: but he who is married is anxious about the things of the world, how he shall please his wife. A wife and a virgin hath different pursuits: the unmarried woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the things of the world, how she shall please her husband.read more.
Now I say this for your own advantage, and not that I should lay a snare in your way, but as what is seemly, and that you may wait on the Lord without distraction.

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

Now this man had four maiden daughters endued with the gift of prophecy.

But she who is a widow indeed, and abandoned to solitude, hopeth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

For at the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

For when they rise from the dead, they will neither marry, nor be given in marriage; but they are as the angels which are in heaven.

but they who are counted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection of the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

Now this I say, brethren, that the time is short. The conclusion is, that even they who have wives, should be as though they had not; and they who weep as though they wept not; and they who rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that purchase as though they possessed not; and they who use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.