What does the Bible say about a healthy marriage?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that a healthy marriage is a holy, lifelong covenant in which husband and wife faithfully love, honor, serve, and remain united in the Lord. Genesis 2:24 presents marriage as a one-flesh union, while Hebrews 13:4 calls it honorable and sexually pure. Husbands are commanded to love sacrificially, as Christ loves his church, nourishing and cherishing their wives (Ephesians 5:25-29; Colossians 3:19). Wives are called to respect and support their husbands in willing, godly submission (Ephesians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:18). Both are bound to faithfulness and reconciliation (1 Corinthians 7:10-11), growing in wisdom, virtue, and mutual service.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

  • Genesis 2:24

    Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

  • Colossians 3:19

    Husbands, love your wives, and don't be bitter against them.

  • Colossians 3:18

    Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

  • Ephesians 5:25-29

    [25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; [26] that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, [27] that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. [28] Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. [29] For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;

  • 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

    [10] But to the married I command--not I, but the Lord--that the wife not leave her husband [11] (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

  • Ephesians 5:22-23

    [22] Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

  • Proverbs 31:10-31

    [10] Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies. [11] The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. [12] She does him good, and not harm, All the days of her life. [13] She seeks wool and flax, And works eagerly with her hands. [14] She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar. [15] She rises also while it is yet night, Gives food to her household, And portions for her servant girls. [16] She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. [17] She girds her loins with strength, And makes her arms strong. [18] She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn't go out by night. [19] She lays her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle. [20] She opens her arms to the poor; Yes, she extends her hands to the needy. [21] She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. [22] She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple. [23] Her husband is respected in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. [24] She makes linen garments and sells them, And delivers sashes to the merchant. [25] Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come. [26] She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue. [27] She looks well to the ways of her household, And doesn't eat the bread of idleness. [28] Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: [29] "Many women do noble things, But you excel them all." [30] Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. [31] Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

  • Colossians 3:18-19

    [18] Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. [19] Husbands, love your wives, and don't be bitter against them.

  • 1 Peter 3:1-6

    [1] In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don't obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word; [2] seeing your pure behavior in fear. [3] Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; [4] but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious. [5] For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God, also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: [6] as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

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