Bible Verses About Marriage — The Complete KJV Guide

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

Context: Spoken at the first wedding in Eden, this is the foundational marriage text the Lord Jesus Himself quotes in Matthew 19:5. It establishes marriage as a permanent, exclusive 'one flesh' union ordained before the fall.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"

Context: Paul places the husband's love under the highest possible standard — Christ's sacrificial love for the church. Marriage is meant to display the gospel; husbands lead by laying themselves down, not by demanding their own way.

"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord."

Context: Solomon names a godly wife as a divine favor, not a mere happy accident. The verse encourages prayer and patience in seeking marriage, and gratitude once it is received.

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

Context: Though not a marriage text by itself, Ecclesiastes describes the strength of partnership: two who labour together, help each other up, and refuse isolation. It frames marriage as mutual support, not romantic feeling alone.

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

Context: Paul's portrait of charity is the practical anatomy of love spouses are called to live out — patience, kindness, refusal to envy or keep score. Read it in the second person about your own marriage to feel its weight.

"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."

Context: The writer to the Hebrews defends the dignity of marriage in a culture that demeaned it. Marriage is honourable, the marriage bed undefiled — but only as kept within God's design.

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."

Context: Paul gives reciprocal commands: wives submit, husbands love and refuse bitterness. Both halves are needed; neither absolves the other.

"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

Context: Jesus answers a question about divorce by appealing back to creation. What God Himself joins together carries divine seal that no human authority is free to dissolve at will.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

Context: The famous acrostic poem closes Proverbs with a portrait of a virtuous wife whose worth exceeds rubies. It is a model for both wives and husbands — the one to grow into, the other to honour.

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

Context: Peter warns that how a husband treats his wife affects his prayer life. To dwell with her 'according to knowledge' is to study her, honour her, and remember she is a fellow heir of grace.