Scripture begins with the Creator’s design: God created man and woman; a man leaves his father and mother, is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Jesus confirms this design and emphasizes its permanence. The New Testament speaks of honoring marriage, the mutual responsibilities of spouses, a husband’s love modeled on Christ’s love for the Church, and singleness as a special gift.
What Does the Bible Say About This
- God said that it was not good for man to be alone and created a helper for him; a man will leave his father and mother, be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh (Gen. 2:18–24).
- Jesus refers to the creation of man and woman and to becoming “one flesh” (Matt. 19:4–6).
- Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure (Heb. 13:4).
- Spouses owe each other their marital duty, and each has authority over the other’s body (1 Cor. 7:3–5).
- Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her; all believers are called to submit to one another in the fear of God (Eph. 5:21–33).
- He who finds a wife finds what is good (Prov. 18:22); two are better than one (Eccl. 4:9–12); a husband is called to treat his wife with understanding (1 Pet. 3:7); regarding wives and husbands—Col. 3:18–19.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the Scripture texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scriptures
10 Scripture Passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
Genesis 2:18–24
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 And God formed out of the ground every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the sky, and every beast of the field; but for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, and then took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of Adam, and brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Matthew 19:4–6
4 He answered them, “Have you not read that the Creator, from the beginning, made them male and female? 5 And He said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh,’ 6 so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honorable among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
1 Corinthians 7:3–5
3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does; likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except by mutual consent for a time, that you may devote yourselves to [[fasting and]] prayer; and then come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Ephesians 5:21–33
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the Church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the Church submits to Christ, so let wives be subject to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the spoken word; 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church, 30 because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. 33 Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife respect her husband.
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a [good] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. [He who drives away a good wife drives away happiness, but he who keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor: 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for there is no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overcome by another, two can withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
1 Peter 3:7
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing them honor as the weaker vessel, since they are joint heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Corinthians 7:7
For I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
Colossians 3:18–19
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Related Questions
- Should a wife submit to her husband?
- Is divorce permissible?
- Is sex before marriage a sin?
- Can you marry an unbeliever?
