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What does the Bible say about one flesh?

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The Bible teaches that marriage joins a man and a woman in a covenantal, lifelong union in which they become one flesh, reflecting God’s good design for faithful love and purity. Genesis 2:24 establishes this pattern, and Jesus reaffirms it in Matthew 19:4-6, teaching that what God joins no one should separate. Sexual union is therefore never morally casual, for 1 Corinthians 6:16 warns that it creates a profound bodily bond. Scripture calls husbands to loving faithfulness, wives and husbands to honor marriage, and all believers to reject adultery and sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:31; Colossians 3:19; Hebrews 13:4).

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

  • 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.

  • 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 5:31

    "For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh."

  • 1 Corinthians 6:16

    Or don't you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "The two," says he, "will become one flesh."

  • Luke 16:18

    Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

  • 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.

  • 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."

  • Matthew 19:9

    I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."

  • Colossians 3:19

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

  • Exodus 22:16

    "If a man entices a virgin who isn't pledged to be married, and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.

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