The Bible has a great deal to say about marriage. This study gathers passages from across Scripture and sets them out for reading and reflection.
What Scripture Says
Marriage appears throughout Scripture as both a real, ordinary human institution and a picture of something greater. In Exodus 21:10, the law protects a wife’s provision even in a difficult household situation: if a man takes another wife, the first wife’s “food,” “raiment,” and “duty of marriage” must not be diminished. This shows that God’s concern for marriage includes concrete, daily faithfulness—material care and marital duty are not to be set aside. Marriage is not treated lightly in Scripture; it carries obligations that God sees and guards.
The Bible also speaks of marriage as a normal part of human life, yet one that must not become ultimate. Luke 17:27 describes people in Noah’s day who “did eat, they drank, they married wives, and were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” Marriage itself is not condemned there; the problem is that life went on with no readiness for God’s judgment. Similarly, Psalm 78:63 laments that “their maidens were not given to marriage”—a sign of devastation and loss. In Mark 12:25, Jesus teaches that in the resurrection people “neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.” Marriage is real and good, but it is not eternal in the same form; it belongs to this present age.
Marriage is also used as a picture of the kingdom and of Christ. Matthew 22:2 says, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.” John 2:1 records that “there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there,” where Jesus performed His first sign. Revelation 19:7 points to the ultimate marriage: “the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Human marriage points beyond itself to the joy of union with Christ.
Finally, Scripture gives both honor and warning. Hebrews 13:4 declares, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Yet 1 Corinthians 7:38 says, “he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.” Marriage is honorable, but it is not the highest good; singleness can be better for undistracted service to the Lord. The Bible neither despises marriage nor makes it an idol.
Living It Out
For the ordinary reader, this means treating marriage with seriousness and gratitude, whether you are married, hoping to be, or single. If you are married, the Exodus passage reminds you that love is not only a feeling but a daily duty: providing for one another, honoring the marriage bed, and not diminishing what you owe your spouse. Hebrews 13:4 calls you to keep marriage honorable and undefiled, trusting that God judges unfaithfulness. At the same time, do not make marriage the center of your life. Luke 17:27 warns that ordinary life—eating, drinking, marrying—can go on while the heart is unprepared for God. Let your marriage, if you have one, point you to Christ rather than replace Him.
If you are single, 1 Corinthians 7:38 frees you from the idea that you are less faithful or less complete without marriage. Singleness can be “better” for devoted service. If you are waiting for marriage or grieving its absence, Psalm 78:63 shows that Scripture does not pretend such loss is nothing. And for every believer, Revelation 19:7 gives hope: the deepest marriage is still ahead—the Lamb and His ready bride. Live now in readiness for Him.
Reflection
- In your current season—married, single, or waiting—are you treating marriage as honorable and God-given, or are you either dismissing it or making it the center of your hope?
- Since Revelation 19:7 points to the marriage of the Lamb, how would your daily choices change if you lived as one making yourself ready for Christ?
Verses to Consider
- Exodus 21:10 — If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
- Psalms 78:63 — The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
- Matthew 22:2 — The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
- Mark 12:25 — For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
- Luke 17:27 — They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
- John 2:1 — And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 — So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
- Hebrews 13:4 — Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
- Revelation 19:7 — Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Where These Come From
These verses are drawn from different parts of the Bible on purpose. A subject is rarely settled by a single line; the whole counsel of Scripture gives the shape of it.