Best Bible Verses for Married Couples
Marriage is one of the most sacred unions according to the Bible. When a man and woman come together in marriage, they become one flesh in God’s eyes. Marriage reflects the spiritual union between Christ and the church.
For Christian married couples, bible verses can provide guidance, wisdom and encouragement for a God-centered marriage. Here are some of the best bible verses from both the Old and New Testament about love and marriage.
What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?
The Bible speaks often of marriage and its sanctity. Here are some key principles about marriage according to the Bible:
- God instituted marriage (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6)
- Husband and wife become one flesh (Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:8)
- Marriage reflects Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:25-33)
- Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)
- Wives are to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ (Ephesians 5:22-24)
- Marriage is honorable and the marriage bed kept pure (Hebrews 13:4)
- Divorce is permitted only in cases of adultery or abandonment (Matthew 5:31-32, 1 Corinthians 7:15)
Let’s look at some of the best bible verses from both the Old and New Testaments for married couples.
Old Testament Bible Verses About Marriage
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.”
Proverbs 18:22 – “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – “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. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 9:9 – “Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.”
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 – “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.”
Malachi 2:14-15 – “You ask, ‘Why?’ It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.”
Proverbs 5:18-19 – “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.”
New Testament Bible Verses About Marriage
Matthew 19:4-6 – “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
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.”
Colossians 3:19 – “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”
Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – “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 5:33 – “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
Proverbs 31:10 – “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”
Mark 10:9 – “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Ephesians 5:22-24 – “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”
1 Corinthians 7:3 – “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.”
Bible Verses About Love in Marriage
Marriage goes beyond the wedding day. A successful Christian marriage grows in love and unity over a lifetime. Here are some great bible verses about loving your spouse.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – “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. Love never fails.”
Colossians 3:14 – “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Proverbs 10:12 – “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
1 Peter 4:8 – “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
1 John 4:7 – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Proverbs 3:3-4 – “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.”
1 John 4:16 – “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 – “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.”
Bible Verses About Unity in Marriage
Unity in Christian marriage flows out of mutual love and submission. Here are some great verses about becoming one flesh and being united through God.
Genesis 2:24 – “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
Mark 10:8 – “and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.”
1 Corinthians 6:16 – “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
Matthew 19:5 – “‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?”
Ephesians 5:31 – “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
Philippians 2:2 – “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Amos 3:3 – “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”
John 17:21 – “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Psalm 133:1 – “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
1 Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Bible Verses About Communication in Marriage
Open and honest communication is vital for a strong Christian marriage. Here are some great verses about the power of the tongue and speaking truth.
Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:15 – “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 12:18 – “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 17:27 – “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”
Proverbs 16:24 – “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Proverbs 15:4 – “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
Proverbs 25:11 – “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
Bible Verses About Conflict Resolution in Marriage
Even in godly Christian marriages, conflict can occur. Here are some helpful bible verses about resolving conflict in a biblical way.
Matthew 18:15 – “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”
Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
Matthew 7:5 – “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Proverbs 19:11 – “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”
1 Corinthians 13:5 – “[Love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Romans 14:19 – “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Bible Verses About Intimacy in Marriage
Physical intimacy is an important part of marriage. Here are some bible verses about the importance of sexual intimacy in marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5 – “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.”
Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
Proverbs 5:18-19 – “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.”
Song of Solomon 7:6-9 – “How beautiful you are and how pleasing, my love, with your delights! Your stature is like that of the palm, and your breasts like clusters of fruit. I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.” May your breasts be like clusters of grapes on the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples, and your mouth like the best wine.”
1 Corinthians 7:4 – “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.”
Song of Solomon 4:9-11 – “You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!”
Bible Verses About Joy in Marriage
A joyful marriage is a gift from God. Here are uplifting bible verses about finding joy in your union.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 – “Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.”
Proverbs 5:18 – “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.”
Jeremiah 32:41 – “I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.”
Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Psalm 28:7 – “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”
Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Conclusion
A Christ-centered marriage rooted in God’s principles of love, unity and faithfulness can be a great blessing. There are so many powerful bible verses husbands and wives can turn to for guidance and encouragement through every season of marriage.
Whether you are newlyweds or have been married for decades, reflecting on scripture together will help you build intimacy with God and each other. May these verses inspire you to love your spouse unconditionally, resolve conflict through grace, and find great joy in your union. Learn here more about faith and marriage tips and guidance.
