Marriage
By Paul Nethercott
Divinely instituted
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24.
Thou shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earht, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. Genesis 1:28.
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Genesis 9:1
Raising up godly seed.
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. Malachi 2:15.
Preventing fornication.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2.
The expectation of the promised seed
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15.
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. Genesis 4:1.
Lawful in all
2 Never Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 28 But and if you marry, you has not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the fless: but I spare you. 1Chorinthians 7:2,28.
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 1 Timothy 5:14.
Honorable for all
Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4.
Should be only in the Lord
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:39.
Expressend by joining together.
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man putasunder. Matthew 19:6.
Making affinity.
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. 1 Kings 3:1.
Taking to wife.
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. Exodus 2:1.
Giving daughters to sons, and sons to daughters.
Neither shall you make marriages with them; your daughter you shall not give unto his son, nor his daughter shall you take unto your son. Deuteronomy 7:3.
Now therefore give not your daughter unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto their your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. Ezra 9:12.
Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder. Matthew 19:6.
2 For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Romans 7:2,3.
The NThe wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:39
Early introduction of polygamy
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Genesis 4:19.
Contracted in patriarchal age with near relations
And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. Genesis 20:12.
And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. Genesis 24:24.
Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take you a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. Genesis 28:2.
Often contracted by parents for children
49 And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from the LORD: we cannot speak unto you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the LORD has spoken. Genesis 24:49-51
6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to communce with him. 8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. Genesis 34:6,8.
Should be with consent of parents
And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father. Genesis 28:8.
2 By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe. 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and half on the other side of Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them. Judges 14:2,3.
Consent of the parties necessary to
57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. 58 And they called Rebekar, and said unto her, Wilt you go with this man? And she said, I will go. Genesis 24:57,58.
And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 1 Samuel 18:20.
And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. 1 Samuel 25:41.
Parents might refuse to give their children in
If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. Exodus 22:17.
Neither shall you make marriages with them; your daughter you shall not give unto his son, nor his daughter shall you take unto your son. Deuteronomy 7:3.
The Jews Forbidden to contract, with their near relations.
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. Leviticus 18:6.
Forbidden to contract with idolaters.
3 Neither shall you make marriages with them; your dauther your shall not give unto his son, nor his daugther shall you take unto your son. 4 For the will turn your son form following me, that they may serve other god: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly.Deuteronomy 7:3,4.
Else if you do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you. Joshua 23:12.
11 Which you has commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, The land unto which you go to possessit, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it form one end to another with their uncleanliness. 12 Now therefre give not your dautheres unto their sons, neither take their daughter unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever:that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your childrren for ever. Ezra 9:11,12.
Often contracted with foreigners.
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites. 1 Kings 11:1.
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: Nehemiah 13:23.
Sometimes guilty of polygamy.
1But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittitese. 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, You shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned his heart. 1 Kings 11:1,3.
Careful in contracting for their children.
2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh: 3 And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell : Genesis 24:2,3.
1And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take you a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. Genesis 28:1,2.
Betrothed themselves some time before.
And what man is there that has betrothed a wife, and has not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. Deuteronomy 20:7.
5 Then went Samson downn, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. 8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and behold, there was a swam of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. Judges 14:5,7,8.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was spoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 1:18.
Contracted when young.
Which forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. Proverbs 2:17.
Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. Joel 1:8.
Often contracted, in their own tribe.
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. Exodus 2:1.
6 This is the thing which the LORD does command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. 7 So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 8 Ane every daughter that possessesan inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. 9 Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but very one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance. 10 Even as the LORD command Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad: 11 For Mahla, Tirzah, and Oglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father’s brothers’ sons: 12 And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.
These are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. Numbers 36:6-13.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Luke 1:5,27.
Obliged to contract with a brother's wife
If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her. Deuteronomy 25:5.
Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Matthew 22:24.
Considered being debarred from, a reproach.
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach. Isaiah 4:1.
Considered being debarred from, a cause of grief.
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. Judges 11:38.
Often punished by being debarred from.
Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate. Jeremiah 7:34
For thus said the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride. Jeremiah 16:9
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. Jeremiah 25:10.
Were allowed divorce because of hardness of their hearts.
When a man has taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. Deuteronomy 24:1
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He said unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. Matthew 19:7,8.
Exempted from going to war immediately after.
And what man is there that has betrothed a wife, and has not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. Deuteronomy 20:7.
The high priest not to contract, with divorced or improper persons
They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God. Leviticus 21:7.
The high priest not to contract with a profane person
A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife. Leviticus 21:14.
Contracted at the gate and before witnesses
1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: you are witnesses this day. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do you worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem. Ruth 4:1,10,11.
Modes of demanding women in
3 And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4 But you shall go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. Genesis 24:3,4
6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. 8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. Genesis 34:6,8.
39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept his servant from evil: for the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. 40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke unto her, saying, David sent us unto you, to take you to him to wife. 1 Samuel 25:39,40.
Elder daughters usually given in, before the younger
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Genesis 29:26.
A dowry given to the woman's parents before
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter. Genesis 29:18.
Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as you shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. Genesis 34:12.
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. 1 Samuel 18:27,28.
So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: Hosea 3:2.
CelebratedWith great rejoicing.
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endures for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, said the LORD. Jeremiah 33:11
He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. John 3:29.
With feasting.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. Genesis 29:22.
So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. Judges 14:10.
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Matthew 22:2,3.
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus said unto her, Woman, what have I to do with you? Mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother said unto the servants, Whatsoever he said unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus said unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And said unto him, Every man at the beginning does set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but you has kept the good wine until now. John 2:1-10.
For seven days.
And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if you can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: Judges 14:12.
A benediction pronounced after
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be you the mother of thousands of millions, and let your seed possess the gate of those which hate them. Ruth 4:11,12.
The Bride Received presents before.
And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. Genesis 24:53.
Given a handmaid at.
And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men. Genesis 24:59
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and Genesis 29:24,29.
Adorned with jewels for.
Lift up your eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live,
said the LORD, you shall surely clothe you with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on you, as a bride does. Isaiah 49:18
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10.
Gorgeously appareled.
13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. 14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto you. Psalm 45:13,14.
Attended by bridesmaids.
Kings’ daughters were among your honorable women: upon your right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Psalm 45:9.
Stood on the right of bridegroom.
Kings’ daughters were among your honorable women: upon your right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Psalm 45:9.
Called to forget her father's house.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, and your father’s house. Psalm 45:10.
The Bride Groom Adorned with ornaments.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10.
Attended by many friends.
And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. Judges 14:11
He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. John 3:29.
Presented with gifts.
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat your favor.
Psalm 45:12.
Crowned with garlands.
Go forth, O you daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. Song 3:11.
Rejoiced over the bride.
For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you: and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5.
Returned with the bride to his house at night.
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him. Matthew 25:1-6.
Garments provided for guests at
And he said unto him, Friend, how came you in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Matthew 22:12.
Infidelity of those contracted in, punished as if married
23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then you shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor’s wife: so you shall put away evil from among you. Deuteronomy 22:23,24.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. Matthew 1:19.
Illustrative of God's union with the Jewish nation.
For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54:5.
Turn, O backsliding children, said the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: Jeremiah 3:14.
19 And I will betroth you unto me for ever; yes, I will betroth you unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth you unto me in faithfulness: and you shall know the LORD. Hosea 2:19,20.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:22-33.
