Bible Verses About Marriage

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

The founding verse of marriage. Cleave is a strong word: joined so closely that separating tears something.

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

A plain-spoken case for partnership. The threefold cord is often read as husband, wife, and God woven together.

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Love defined by behavior under pressure. Read it with your own name in place of “charity” and it becomes an examination.

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

Marriage survives on forbearance and forgiveness, practiced in the same measure Christ practiced them toward you.

“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Unity is kept, not found; the verse assumes effort. Lowliness and patience are the daily tools.

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Jesus’ words on the weight of the marriage bond. What God joined, He also has an interest in preserving.

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

Every long marriage accumulates a multitude of small offenses. Fervent love keeps them covered rather than catalogued.

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

The instruction not to return railing for railing is marriage-counsel grade advice: someone has to break the cycle.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

The standard set for a husband’s love is sacrificial: Christ gave Himself. Restoration usually starts with someone giving first.

“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

A summary verse: love and respect, each spouse handed their own assignment rather than their spouse’s.

“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”

Love’s durability, sung at full volume. Floods have come against your marriage; this verse says love can outlast them.

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”

A restoration promise many couples pray over wasted seasons: God can give back what the hard years consumed.