Weddings and Marriage in the Bible

53 passages of the Berean Standard Bible, line by line, from Nave’s Topical Bible.

Customs

Parents arranged wives for their sonsGen 21:21, Gen 24:3–4, Gen 28:1–2, Jer 29:6
The verses
Gen 21:21And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Gen 24:3–4and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
Gen 28:1–2So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded. “Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
Jer 29:6Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.
Samson asks his parents to get him a Philistine wifeJudg 14:2
The verses
Judg 14:2So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”
Rebekah is asked: “Will you go with this man?”Gen 24:57–58
The verses
Gen 24:57–58So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.” They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
Rebekah covers herself with her veil on meeting IsaacGen 24:65
The verses
Gen 24:65and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
Jewels and clothing for the bride, gifts for her familyGen 24:53
The verses
Gen 24:53Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.
A dowry was paid to the bride’s fatherGen 34:12, Exod 22:16–17
The verses
Gen 34:12Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”
Exod 22:16–17If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.
Laban: not our custom to marry the younger before the olderGen 29:26
The verses
Gen 29:26Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.
A week of wedding celebrationGen 29:22, Gen 29:27–28
The verses
Gen 29:22So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.
Gen 29:27–28Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.” And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
The bridegroom gave a seven-day feast with thirty companionsJudg 14:10–12
The verses
Judg 14:10–12Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom. And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him. “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
A bride’s jewelry and wedding sashJer 2:32, Isa 61:10
The verses
Jer 2:32Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.
Isa 61:10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
A princess in a gold-embroidered gown with her companionsPs 45:13–14
The verses
Ps 45:13–14All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold. In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you.
Solomon’s crown from his mother on his wedding daySong 3:11
The verses
Song 3:11Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother bestowed on the day of his wedding— the day of his heart’s rejoicing.
The voices of bride and bridegroom filled the streetsJer 7:34
The verses
Jer 7:34I will remove from the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem the sounds of joy and gladness and the voices of the bride and bridegroom, for the land will become a wasteland.”
Ten bridesmaids with lamps go out to meet the bridegroom (a parable)Matt 25:1–6
The verses
Matt 25:1–6“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Guests were expected to wear wedding clothes (a parable)Matt 22:11–12
The verses
Matt 22:11–12But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
Marriage witnessed by the elders at the city gateRuth 4:9–11
The verses
Ruth 4:9–11At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.” “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.
Joseph is called Mary’s husband while they are only pledgedMatt 1:18–19, Luke 1:27
The verses
Matt 1:18–19This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
Luke 1:27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

In the Law

A newly married man is free from war for one yearDeut 24:5
The verses
Deut 24:5If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.
A brother marries his brother’s childless widowDeut 25:5–10, Gen 38:8, Mark 12:19
The verses
Deut 25:5–10When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.” Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,” his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.” And his family name in Israel will be called “The House of the Unsandaled.”
Gen 38:8Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”
Mark 12:19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.
Zelophehad’s daughters must marry within their father’s tribeNum 36:6–8
The verses
Num 36:6–8This is what the LORD has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: They may marry anyone they please, provided they marry within a clan of the tribe of their father. No inheritance in Israel may be transferred from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. Every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any Israelite tribe must marry within a clan of the tribe of her father, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers.
Priests may not marry a divorced womanLev 21:7, Lev 21:13–14
The verses
Lev 21:7A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.
Lev 21:13–14The woman he marries must be a virgin. He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,
A captive woman mourns her parents a full month firstDeut 21:10–13
The verses
Deut 21:10–13When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive, if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife, then you shall bring her into your house. She must shave her head, trim her nails, and put aside the clothing of her captivity. After she has lived in your house a full month and mourned her father and mother, you may have relations with her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife.
Israelites told not to intermarry with the nations of CanaanDeut 7:3
The verses
Deut 7:3Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,

Examples

Abraham married Sarah, his half sisterGen 11:29, Gen 20:12
The verses
Gen 11:29And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.
Gen 20:12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.
Isaac loved Rebekah and was comforted after his mother’s deathGen 24:67
The verses
Gen 24:67And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.
Jacob works seven years for Rachel; they seem a few daysGen 29:18–20
The verses
Gen 29:18–20Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
Jacob is given Leah first, then RachelGen 29:21–28
The verses
Gen 29:21–28Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.” So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast. But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant. When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?” Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older. Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.” And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
Caleb gives his daughter Acsah to the man who takes Kiriath-sepherJudg 1:12–13
The verses
Judg 1:12–13And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.” So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
Saul promises his daughter to the man who kills Goliath1 Sam 17:25, 1 Sam 18:17
The verses
1 Sam 17:25Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see this man who keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.”
1 Sam 18:17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
Saul asks a hundred Philistine foreskins; David brings two hundred1 Sam 18:25–27, 2 Sam 3:14
The verses
1 Sam 18:25–27Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.
2 Sam 3:14Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
Boaz acquires Ruth as his wife before witnessesRuth 4:5, Ruth 4:10
The verses
Ruth 4:5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
Ruth 4:10Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
Benjamites catch wives from the dancers of ShilohJudg 21:21–23
The verses
Judg 21:21–23and watch. When you see the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, each of you is to come out of the vineyards, catch for himself a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. When their fathers or brothers come to us to complain, we will tell them, ‘Do us a favor by helping them, since we did not get wives for each of them in the war. Since you did not actually give them your daughters, you have no guilt.’” The Benjamites did as instructed and carried away the number of women they needed from the dancers they caught. They went back to their own inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and settled in them.
Xerxes makes Esther queen and holds Esther’s banquetEsth 2:17–18
The verses
Esth 2:17–18And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.
Hosea buys a woman for fifteen shekels of silver and barleyHos 3:2
The verses
Hos 3:2So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
Jesus and his disciples at a wedding in CanaJohn 2:1–10
The verses
John 2:1–10On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why does this concern us?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. “Now draw some out,” He said, “and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!”
Apostles took their wives along on their travels1 Cor 9:5
The verses
1 Cor 9:5Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

Sayings in Proverbs

He who finds a wife finds a good thingProv 18:22
The verses
Prov 18:22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
Better a corner of the roof than a house with a quarrelsome wifeProv 21:9, Prov 21:19
The verses
Prov 21:9Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Prov 21:19Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

Sources

From Nave’s Topical Bible (Orville J. Nave, 1896; public domain): subjects chosen, lines shortened and put into modern words, lines of interpretation left out; each verse checked.

Berean Standard Bible · Public domain