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What does the Bible say about dating while separated?

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The Bible calls separated spouses to sexual faithfulness, wise restraint, and earnest pursuit of reconciliation where possible, rather than beginning a new romantic relationship before the marriage is truly ended. Marriage is God’s covenant joining of husband and wife, so Jesus warns against divorce and the adultery that can follow wrongful remarriage (Matthew 19:6; Matthew 5:32). Hebrews 13:4 honors the marriage bed, and Matthew 5:28 calls believers to purity even in desire. Separation may be necessary in grievous circumstances, and 1 Corinthians 7:15 recognizes abandonment by an unbelieving spouse, yet Scripture urges peace and holiness. During separation, love should show patience, truthfulness, and self-control (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • Matthew 5:28

    but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

  • 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:15

    Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:15-17

    [15] Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace. [16] For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? [17] Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

  • Deuteronomy 24:1-4

    [1] When a man takes a wife, and marries her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorce, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. [2] When she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's [wife]. [3] If the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorce, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife; [4] her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Yahweh: and you shall not cause the land to sin, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance.

  • Matthew 5:32

    but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

  • Matthew 19:8

    He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2

    But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

  • Matthew 19:6

    So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart."

  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

    [4] Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, [5] doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; [6] doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

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