Bible Verses About the Marriage Between a Man & a Woman

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The Bible addresses the subjects of love and marriage many times throughout its 66 books. Almost every mention discusses marriage as a union between a man and a woman, though a few particular verses heavily emphasize the gender of married partners. Take a look at these verses to discover what the Bible says about marriage between men and women.

1 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

These verses appear in the seventh book of the New Testament and the second of Paul's epistles. In this passage, the apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth advising them on matters of sexuality and marriage. He writes that, while he prefers to remain single, it is better for a man and woman to marry than to fall prey to sexual immorality. He specifies that marriage should take place between a man and a woman and tells husbands and wives to give conjugal rights to one another.

2 Genesis 2:18-24

This passage describes the marriage of Adam and Eve, the first people on earth. God creates Adam and, noticing his loneliness, decides to make a helper for him. From Adam's rib, God makes Eve and unites them. The scripture notes that, because of this first union between man and woman, a man should leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The companionship between Adam and Eve serves as the blueprint for all other marriages between a man and a woman.

3 Ephesians 5:22-33

This passage appears in Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus, the fifth of his epistles. In chapter five, Paul explains the ideal relationship between a man and a woman in a marriage relationship. He advises wives to submit to their own husbands and respect them just as they do to the Lord. With equal vigor, Paul commands husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church and sacrificed Himself for the church's sake. Paul references Genesis 2:24 to remind the church of the origins of the marriage covenant.

4 1 Peter 2 and 3

In the first of Peter's letters to the church in Asia minor, he echoes Paul's insistence on marital relationships as expressed in the book of Ephesians. He insists that a good marriage is one in which wives be subject to their own husbands, even if their husbands do not share their convictions. Similar to Paul he directs husbands to mimic Christ by loving their own wives and respecting them as fellow heirs of grace. These chapters and verses demonstrate the importance of gender dynamics within the author's view of marriage.

Sarah Badger is a certified pilates and group fitness instructor, writer and dance teacher. Her work has appeared in "Dance Spirit" magazine and several literary journals. Badger earned her bachelor's degree in English and religious studies from Marymount Manhattan College, and currently owns a dance and fitness studio in upstate New York.

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