THE MARRIAGE VERSES

This is for you, Christian wives, or those who have ever wondered what does the Bible actually say about a wife’s role? Prayerfully consider the list below…

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. Prov 12:4 (ESV)

A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. Prov 14:1 (NLT)

It is better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. Prov 21:19 (NLT)

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 his life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Prov 31:10-30 (ESV)

“‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” Mark 10:7-12 (ESV)

The husband should meet his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should do the same thing for her husband. The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body but the husband does. Likewise, the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Don’t refuse to meet each other’s needs unless you both agree for a short period of time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come back together again so that Satan might not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1 Cor 7:3-5a (CEB)

To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord); the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 1 Cor 7:10-11 (ESV)

If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 1 Cor 7:13-16 (ESV)

Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Eph 5:22-24 (ESV)

The wife must respect her husband. Eph 5:33b (NIV)

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Col 3:18-19 (ESV)

Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 1 Tim 3:11 (ESV)

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Heb 13:4 (NLT)

In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. Don’t be concerned with the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. 1 Pet 3:1-6 (NLT)

Questions for consideration

Am I am excellent wife or do I bring shame to my husband?
Am I building my home up or tearing it down?
Am I quarrelsome or complaining?
Do I do my husband good and not evil?
Do I have strength and dignity?
Do I open my mouth with wisdom and have the teaching of kindness on my tongue?
Do I look well to the ways of my household?
Do I meet the sexual needs of my husband?
Do I submit to my husband, as I submit to the Lord? Do I let him make the final decisions? Do I choose to let him lead?
Do I respect my husband?
Do I slander people?
Am I faithful in all things?
Do I honour my marriage? Do I keep my sex life (and sexual thoughts and comments) to my marriage and keep it pure?
Do I have a pure and reverent life and a gentle and quiet spirit?
Do I care more about my appearance than my inner life?
Do I trust God and accept the authority of my husband?

This is for you, Christian husbands, or those who have ever wondered what does the Bible actually say about a man’s role in marriage? Prayerfully consider the list below…

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24 (ESV)

Drink water from your own well – share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. Proverbs 5:15-19 (NLT)

Live happily with the woman you love…The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. Ecclesiastes 9:9(NLT)

You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” Malachi 2:14-16 (NLT)

For the husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Saviour of his body, the church. Ephesians 5:23 (NLT)

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word…in the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. Ephesians 5:25, 27-29 (NLT)

So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33 (NLT)

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Col 3:19 (ESV)

So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife…he must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 1 Tim 2a, 4-5 (NLT)

Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 1 Tim 3:12 (ESV)

In a similar way, you husbands must live with your wives in an understanding manner, as with a most delicate partner. Honor them as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may interfere with your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7 (ISV)

Questions for consideration

Have I left my father and mother and do I hold fast to my wife?
Do I rejoice in my wife and live with her happily?
Am I faithful to my wife? Do I honour my marriage? Do I keep my sex life (and thought life) to my marriage and keep it pure?
Have I chosen to be the head of my family, actively leading, as God intended?
Do I love my wife sacrificially? Like Christ did, do I lay down my life (deny myself) for my wife?
Am I harsh with my wife?
Do I manage my household well?
Do I live with my wife in an understanding way, honoring her?
Do I meet my wife’s sexual needs?
Do I rejoice in my wife? Have I chosen to be satisfied in her?

THE MARRIAGE VERSES

What does the Bible say about marriage?

Verses for wives

Verses for husbands