What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?

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

The highest standard — sacrificial, self-giving love modeled on the cross.

Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

The famous love chapter — a description of marriage at its best.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun; for that is your portion in life.

Wisdom literature celebrates marriage as one of life's great joys.

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

A good marriage is described as a direct gift of God's favor.

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

Paul's summary — love from the husband, respect from the wife.

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

Marriage is to be honored — sexual faithfulness is non-negotiable.

Yahweh God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.'

Loneliness was the first problem God named — and marriage was the answer.

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

Love in marriage is fierce, consuming, and divine in origin.

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

How a man treats his wife affects his relationship with God.

House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

A godly spouse is a gift that cannot be earned or bought — only received.

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

Love is the binding force that holds all other virtues together.

Ruth said, 'Don't urge me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.'

A picture of covenant loyalty — the language of marriage vows.

Who can find a capable wife? For her price is far above rubies.

Character and capability are the prized qualities — not appearance alone.

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.

Jesus affirms the covenant nature of marriage — it is God's joining.

Take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

God calls faithfulness to the spouse of your youth a matter of the spirit.

Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

A husband's love for his wife is inseparable from his own wellbeing.

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is like rottenness in his bones.

A godly wife builds her husband up — contentious relationships slowly destroy.

Let the husband fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

Paul is direct — marriage involves mutual commitment and service.

Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth... Let her be as the loving deer and pleasant doe. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

Scripture celebrates romantic love within marriage — freely and joyfully.

Husbands, love your wives, and don't be bitter against them.

Bitterness is the quiet enemy of marriage — Paul warns against it directly.