Bible Verses About Marriage

"Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh."

The original design — two becoming one, before sin entered the picture.

"Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,"

Love as a daily practice — the most applied verse in wedding ceremonies.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;"

Love as sacrifice, not transaction — the specific call on husbands.

"Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

Love and respect — both named, both needed.

"Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh."

A good spouse as a gift — gratitude as a practice.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor."

Two are better than one — the power of partnership laid out plainly.

"Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh."

Love stronger than death — the weight of the commitment.

"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers."

Marriage held in honour — what that requires of both partners.

"So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”"

What was joined — and the weight of that word.

"Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection."

Love as the bond that holds everything else together.

"“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,"

Anger is allowed — letting it fester overnight is not.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

A soft answer turns away wrath — the hardest and most powerful choice in conflict.

"Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God."

Commitment when it costs something — one of the most beautiful expressions in scripture.

"Did he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth."

Faithfulness as something God takes seriously.

"If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”"

As for me and my house — a household decision, made together.