What does the Bible say about marriage?

Key Bible verses about marriage

1. Genesis 2:18

   The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

2. Genesis 2:24

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

3. Matthew 19:4-6

   He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh’? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”

4. Ephesians 5:22-25

   Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,

5. Ephesians 5:31-33

   “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.” This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly. Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

6. Colossians 3:18-19

   Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.

7. 1 Peter 3:7

   You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

8. Hebrews 13:4

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

9. Proverbs 18:22

   Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.

10. 1 Corinthians 7:2-4

    But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband. The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

11. Proverbs 31:10-12

    Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

12. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

    Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Scripture: World English Bible (public domain). Short quotations in the introduction are from the ESV. Read each passage in its chapter for the full context.