What does the Bible say about marriage problems?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that marriage problems should be faced with truth, repentance, prayer, forgiveness, and steadfast love under God’s design for covenant faithfulness. Jesus grounds marriage in God’s joining of husband and wife as one flesh in Matthew 19:4-6, while Hebrews 13:4 calls believers to honor marriage. Husbands are commanded to love sacrificially and live considerately with their wives, as Ephesians 5:25 and 1 Peter 3:7 teach. Both spouses must put away bitterness and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:31-32), confess sins, and pray (James 5:16). Even in difficult mixed-faith marriages, 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 urges peace and faithfulness where possible.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • 1 Peter 3:7

    You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

  • James 5:16

    Confess your offenses to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective, earnest prayer of a righteous man is powerfully effective.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2-5

    [2] But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. [3] Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. [4] The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife. [5] Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

  • 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.

  • Proverbs 10:12

    Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all wrongs.

  • Ephesians 5:25

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

  • Proverbs 3:1-35

    [1] My son, don't forget my teaching; But let your heart keep my commandments: [2] For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to you. [3] Don't let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. [4] So you will find favor, And good understanding in the sight of God and man. [5] Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, And don't lean on your own understanding. [6] In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will direct your paths. [7] Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. [8] It will be health to your body, And nourishment to your bones. [9] Honor Yahweh with your substance, With the first fruits of all your increase: [10] So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. [11] My son, don't despise Yahweh's discipline, Neither be weary of his reproof: [12] For whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; Even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights. [13] Happy is the man who finds wisdom, The man who gets understanding. [14] For her good profit is better than getting silver, And her return is better than fine gold. [15] She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. [16] Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. [17] Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. [18] She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her. [19] By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens. [20] By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew. [21] My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion: [22] So they will be life to your soul, And grace for your neck. [23] Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won't stumble. [24] When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. [25] Don't be afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: [26] For Yahweh will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being taken. [27] Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do it. [28] Don't say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, Tomorrow I will give it to you," When you have it by you. [29] Don't devise evil against your neighbor, Seeing he dwells securely by you. [30] Don't strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. [31] Don't envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. [32] For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, But his friendship is with the upright. [33] Yahweh's curse is in the house of the wicked, But he blesses the habitation of the righteous. [34] Surely he mocks the mockers, But he gives grace to the humble. [35] The wise will inherit glory, But shame will be the promotion of fools.

  • Matthew 19:4-6

    [4] He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, [5] and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?' [6] So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart."

  • Ephesians 4:31-32

    [31] Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. [32] And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:12-16

    [12] But to the rest I--not the Lord--say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her. [13] The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband. [14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now are they holy. [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?

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