Weddings are beautiful celebrations of love and commitment, but what does the Bible say about them? Today, we’ll learn about the biblical principles behind marriage ceremonies and the importance of making Christ the foundation of a union.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Communication In Relationships
What Does The Bible Say About Wedding Ceremonies
Genesis 2:24
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
This verse emphasizes the sacred bond between a husband and wife, signifying their unity and commitment to each other. It illustrates that marriage involves leaving one’s family and cleaving, or holding fast, to one’s spouse, forming a deep and intimate relationship.
The union of husband and wife is seen as a divine institution, where two individuals become united as one, both in physical and spiritual union. It serves as a foundation for the establishment of a family and the continuation of God’s plan for humanity.
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of sexual faithfulness within the context of marriage. It encourages husbands and wives to fulfill their sexual desires within the boundaries of their marital relationship, rather than seeking pleasure outside of it.
By emphasizing the mutual exclusivity of sexual relations, it highlights the commitment and fidelity that should be present in a God-honoring marriage. It serves as a reminder that marriage provides a secure and loving environment for the expression of physical intimacy.
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
This verse highlights the sacrificial love that husbands are called to have towards their wives. It draws a parallel between the selfless love demonstrated by Jesus towards the Church and the love that husbands should have for their wives.
By sacrificially loving their wives, husbands are called to put their spouse’s needs and well-being before their own. It represents a Christ-like example of love, where husbands are called to serve, protect, and cherish their wives, just as Christ does for the Church.
Colossians 3:14
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
This verse emphasizes the central role of love in a healthy and thriving marriage. It encourages spouses to cultivate the virtue of love, which acts as a binding force that holds together all other virtues and creates harmony in the relationship.
Love serves as the foundation for forgiveness, patience, kindness, and other virtues essential for a successful marriage. When love is present, it fosters understanding, empathy, and a deep connection between husband and wife, leading to a stronger and more fulfilling relationship.
Proverbs 18:22
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.”
This verse highlights the blessing and favor that comes from finding a suitable wife. It implies that a good wife is a precious gift from God, bringing joy, happiness, and favor into a man’s life.
It signifies the importance of appreciating and valuing the wife, recognizing her as a source of blessing and divine favor. In a marriage, both spouses are meant to bring out the best in each other and grow together in God’s grace and favor.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
This verse emphasizes the value of companionship and the strength that comes from a partnership in marriage. It acknowledges that having a spouse by one’s side provides support, encouragement, and assistance.
In a marriage, both partners can experience shared successes and overcome challenges together. It reminds couples of the importance of unity and teamwork, where they rely on each other’s strengths to achieve greater productivity and navigate the ups and downs of life.
Mark 10:9
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
This verse highlights the permanence and sacredness of the marital union. It underscores the divine intention that once a couple is joined together in marriage by God, no human action should seek to tear apart that bond.
It serves as a reminder of the importance of commitment and loyalty within the marriage covenant. When difficulties arise, it calls for perseverance, forgiveness, and a resolve to work through challenges rather than seeking divorce or separation.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
This renowned passage, also known as the “Love Chapter,” provides a comprehensive description of love’s characteristics within the context of marriage. It portrays love as selfless, compassionate, and enduring.
It guides couples to practice patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, and gentleness towards one another. It encourages spouses to prioritize the well-being of their partner and to have faith, hope, and perseverance in their love for each other.
Proverbs 31:10-12
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
This passage praises the qualities of a virtuous and capable wife. It describes her worth as being more valuable than precious jewels, highlighting her significance in the life of her husband.
It illustrates the trust, security, and prosperity that flow from a strong marriage. The wife’s commitment to doing good and bringing benefit to her husband is exalted, affirming the vital role she plays in nurturing the relationship and contributing to the family’s well-being.
1 Peter 3:7
“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.”
This verse calls husbands to treat their wives with consideration, respect, and honor. It acknowledges and affirms the equal worth and value of both spouses as co-heirs in God’s gracious gift of life.
It emphasizes the significance of understanding, empathy, and kindness in the husband-wife relationship. By treating their wives with dignity and honor, husbands cultivate an environment of mutual respect, which fosters emotional intimacy and enhances their spiritual lives together.
Ruth 1:16-17
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.””
This verse showcases the loyalty, devotion, and selflessness demonstrated by Ruth towards her mother-in-law, Naomi. It portrays the depth of commitment and love that should be present in a marital relationship.
Ruth’s declaration of unwavering commitment to her husband and willingness to embrace his people and faith is a powerful testament to the importance of unity, trust, and honoring the marital bond even in the face of adversity.
Hebrews 13:4
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
This verse emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the call for purity within the marital relationship. It encourages believers to hold marriage in high esteem and to keep the marriage bed pure and untainted.
It serves as a reminder that God holds individuals accountable for their actions, especially in matters related to sexuality and faithfulness within the bond of marriage. It calls for fidelity, honesty, and reverence towards the sacredness of the marital union.
Proverbs 5:18-19
“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”
This poetic passage celebrates the joy and delight that should be found in the physical intimacy of the marital relationship. It highlights the deep satisfaction and pleasure that comes from marital love.
It encourages husbands to rejoice in the wife of their youth and find intoxicating delight in their shared love. By embracing and cherishing the physical aspect of their relationship, couples can nurture intimacy and strengthen their bond.
Song of Solomon 2:16
“My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.”
This verse conveys the deep sense of belonging and possessiveness between a husband and wife. It reflects the mutual ownership and exclusivity that characterizes a committed marital relationship.
The symbolism of grazing among the lilies represents the enjoyment and harmony of being in each other’s company. It captures the sentiment of profound love and commitment, where each spouse belongs entirely to the other.
Matthew 19:6
“So, they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
This verse echoes the previous verse in Mark 10:9, emphasizing the divine union that occurs in marriage. It highlights the spiritual and metaphysical bond where two individuals become one flesh in the eyes of God.
It reinforces the sanctity of the marriage covenant, urging spouses and others to respect and preserve the union that God has established. It serves as a solemn reminder that marriage is not a contract that can be easily broken, but a sacred commitment that should be honored and safeguarded.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5
“The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
This passage addresses the importance of sexual intimacy within marriage and advocates for mutual fulfillment of each other’s needs. It highlights the shared ownership and responsibility that spouses have over each other’s bodies.
The passage encourages couples to regularly engage in physical intimacy, apart from mutually agreed-upon periods of fasting or prayer. By prioritizing the physical bond, the couple safeguards against temptations and strengthens the emotional connection within the marriage.
Malachi 2:14-15
“But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.”
This verse addresses the importance of fidelity and faithfulness within the marriage covenant. It highlights the inherent betrayal that occurs when spouses are unfaithful to each other.
It acknowledges that God is a witness to the vows and promises made in marriage. It emphasizes the lasting spiritual and emotional impact of unfaithfulness and calls husbands and wives to honor their commitment to their spouse, recognizing the sacred nature of their union and the responsibility to raise godly offspring.
Proverbs 12:4
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.”
This verse underscores the significant impact a wife has on her husband’s life. It portrays a virtuous and capable wife as a source of honor and pride, symbolizing a crown that enhances her husband’s reputation and esteem.
Conversely, it demonstrates the destructive influence of a wife who brings shame and disgrace. It serves as a reminder of the responsibility wives have to build up and support their husbands, contributing to the overall well-being of the family unit and the husband’s sense of self-worth.
Ephesians 4:2-3
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
This verse emphasizes the qualities of humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peace that should characterize a Christ-centered marriage. It guides couples to cultivate a spirit of understanding and forbearance towards one another.
By prioritizing unity and peace, spouses create an environment of harmony and mutual respect. It encourages couples to show grace and forgiveness, seeking to understand and support one another throughout the ups and downs of married life.
Proverbs 20:6
“Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?”
This verse points to the rarity and value of finding a faithful and loyal spouse. It recognizes that true and unwavering love is not easily found.
It serves as a reminder of the importance of trust and faithfulness within a marriage, calling couples to demonstrate unwavering commitment and loyalty to their spouse. It challenges individuals to strive for faithfulness, knowing it is a key ingredient in a successful and fulfilling marriage.
Proverbs 22:6
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
This verse highlights the influence and responsibility parents have in shaping their children’s character and guiding them in the ways of righteousness. It underscores the significant role of a godly marriage in the upbringing of children.
It encourages parents to provide a strong spiritual foundation for their children, teaching them biblical values and principles. When children are raised in a loving and Christ-centered home, their likelihood of embracing those values and continuing in the faith is greatly increased.
Psalm 128:1-2
“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”
This psalm emphasizes the connection between the fear of the Lord, obedience, and God’s blessings. It suggests that those who live according to God’s commands and honor Him in their marriage will experience His favor and prosperity.
It encourages couples to prioritize their relationship with God, seeking His guidance and following His ways in their marriage. By placing God at the center, they open themselves up to the abundant blessings and fulfillment that come from living in alignment with His will.
Proverbs 13:20
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
This verse highlights the importance of choosing one’s company wisely, especially in the context of marriage. It emphasizes the significant impact that a spouse has on one’s values, beliefs, and character.
It encourages individuals to seek a spouse who is wise and godly, recognizing the potential harm that can result from being in a relationship with someone who lacks wisdom and godly principles. It underscores the importance of being intentional about choosing a life partner who will influence and support one’s spiritual growth.
Proverbs 24:3-4
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding, it is established; through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”
This verse conveys the importance of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in building a strong and thriving household. It suggests that by seeking God’s wisdom and understanding, couples can establish a home filled with love, contentment, and valuable relationships.
It encourages spouses to invest in their personal growth, seeking knowledge and understanding in order to create a harmonious and nurturing environment within their home. By continuously seeking wisdom, they can lay a firm foundation for their marriage and family’s future.