Marriage is intended to be a sacred union of love and respect, but sadly, abuse can infiltrate this sacred bond. What does the Bible say about abuse within marriage, and how should we respond? Let’s explore the biblical teachings on love, honor, and the sanctity of marriage, as we seek to address and prevent abuse in all its forms within our relationships.
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What Does The Bible Say About Abuse In A Marriage
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is Patient and Kind
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let Go of Anger and Bitterness
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – The Fruits of the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
1 Peter 3:7 – Honor and Respect
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Matthew 19:6 – Let No One Separate
“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Proverbs 14:21 – Oppressing the Poor is Despising God
“Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.”
1 John 4:19-21 – Love Your Brother
“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
Proverbs 3:3-4 – Love and Faithfulness
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
Matthew 7:12 – The Golden Rule
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Colossians 3:19 – Love Your Wife
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 – Do Not Make Friends with a Hot-Tempered Person
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
1 Peter 3:8-9 – Be Sympathetic and Humble
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Ephesians 5:28 – Love Your Wife as Yourself
“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”
Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred Stirs Up Conflict
“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
1 Corinthians 7:3-5 – Mutual Decision and Consideration
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Romans 12:17-18 – Live in Harmony
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Ephesians 4:2 – Be Completely Humble and Gentle
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Proverbs 13:10 – Pride Only Breeds Quarrels
“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
James 1:19-20 – Be Slow to Anger
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
Proverbs 25:28 – A Man without Self-Control
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”
Philippians 2:3-4 – Consider Others More Important
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Proverbs 19:11 – A Person’s Wisdom
“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”
1 Peter 4:8 – Love Covers a Multitude of Sins
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Proverbs 16:32 – Better a Patient Person
“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”
1 Corinthians 7:2 – Each Man Should Have His Own Wife
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
Proverbs 21:14 – A Gift in Secret Calms Anger
“A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.”
Galatians 6:2 – Bear One Another’s Burdens
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
1 Peter 5:5-6 – Clothe Yourselves with Humility
“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Proverbs 27:17 – Iron Sharpens Iron
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Romans 13:10 – Love Does No Harm
“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
1 Corinthains 13:6 – Rejoices Not in Iniquity
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
James 4:6 – God Opposes the Proud
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 – Do Not Let the Sun Go Down on Your Anger
“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Isaiah 59:2 – Sin Separates from God
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
1 Peter 2:23 – Jesus Did Not Retaliate
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
Proverbs 16:18 – Pride Goes Before Destruction
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
James 1:19 – Be Quick to Listen
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Proverbs 14:17 – A Quick-Tempered Person Acts Foolishly
“A quick-tempered person acts foolishly, and one who schemes is hated.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Glorify God
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless Words Pierce Like a Sword
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Matthew 5:44 – Love Your Enemies
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Proverbs 22:10 – Drive Out the Mockers
“Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.”
Colossians 3:23 – Work as Unto the Lord
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”