What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?

Official answer 2026-07-13

Marriage is not a social institution that humanity happened to invent. It is a sacred covenant that God Himself established at the very beginning of creation. Genesis 2:24 says, "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." This single verse reveals three pillars of marriage: leaving (forming a new loyalty), uniting (a lifelong commitment), and becoming one (a joining of body, soul, and spirit). The foundation of marriage is not feeling but covenant. Jesus Himself affirmed the sacredness and permanence of marriage. In Mark 10:9 He says, "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." This reminds us that marriage is not merely an agreement between two people; God is present within it. When we remember that our spouse is a gift from God, we are far more able to respond with grace rather than demands. On how husbands and wives should relate, Ephesians 5 paints a beautiful picture. Husbands are to love their wives "just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph 5:25). Wives are to respect and support their husbands as the church honors Christ. This is not about who holds power; it is a partnership of self-giving love and glad trust. 1 Peter 3:7 likewise urges husbands to be considerate and to treat their wives with honor as fellow heirs of the gift of life. 1 Corinthians 13 describes the love a marriage most needs: "Love is patient, love is kind... It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." When love is no longer only a romantic feeling but a daily choice to give and to serve, a marriage can stand firm through storms. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says that two are better than one, and a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. A healthy marriage is really a cord of three strands: husband, wife, and Christ at the center. As each spouse draws nearer to God, they also draw nearer to each other. Many couples discover that the way to fix a distance between them begins with each one closing the distance with the Lord. Whether you are preparing for marriage, building a marriage, or repairing one, let God's Word be your foundation. Open the free BiblePro 主内圣经 app and read Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 13, and Genesis 2 together, and let God rebuild your love.