What does the Bible say about mixed marriages?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that marriage should be honored as a covenant in the Lord, and believers should not deliberately bind themselves to unbelief, while ethnic background does not make one person spiritually superior to another. Deuteronomy 7:3-4 warns Israel against marriages that would turn hearts toward false gods, and 2 Corinthians 6:14 calls Christians to avoid being unequally yoked with unbelievers. Yet Galatians 3:28, Acts 17:26, and Acts 10:34 affirm God’s impartiality among peoples. If a believer is already married to an unbeliever, 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 urges faithfulness and peace where possible. Christians should therefore pursue marriages marked by shared faith, holiness, mutual love, and honor (Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:39).

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • 2 Corinthians 6:14 18 votes

    Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness?

  • Deuteronomy 7:3-4 17 votes

    [3] neither shall you make marriages with them; your daughter you shall not give to his son, nor his daughter shall you take to your son. [4] For he will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Yahweh be kindled against you, and he will destroy you quickly.

  • Galatians 3:28 13 votes

    There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 11 votes

    [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?

  • Hebrews 13:4 9 votes

    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 7:39 9 votes

    A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord.

  • Acts 17:26 7 votes

    He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,

  • Acts 10:34 7 votes

    Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that God doesn't show favoritism;

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