Marriage

Consanguinous, Abraham and Sarah

• Genesis 11:29

  And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

• Genesis 12:13

  Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

• Genesis 20:3

  But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

• Genesis 20:9–16

  Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. …

Isaac and Rebekah

• Genesis 24:3

  And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

• Genesis 24:4

  But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

• Genesis 24:67

  And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

• Genesis 28:2

  Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

Jacob and his wives

• Genesis 29:15–30

  And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. …

Levirate (the brother required to marry a brother's widow)

• Genesis 38:8

  And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

• Genesis 38:11

  Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

• Deuteronomy 25:5–10

  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. And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. …

• Ruth 4:5

  Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

• Matthew 22:24

  Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

• Mark 12:19–23

  Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. …

• Luke 20:28

  Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Parents contract for their children

Parents' consent requires in the Mosaic law

• Exodus 22:17

  If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

Presents given to parents to secure their favor

• Genesis 24:53

  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 34:12

  Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.

• Deuteronomy 22:29

  Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

• 1 Samuel 18:25

  And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

• Hosea 3:2

  So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Nuptial feasts

• Genesis 29:22

  And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

• Judges 14:12

  And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye 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:

• Esther 2:18

  Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

• Matthew 22:11

  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

• Matthew 22:12

  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Jesus present at

• John 2:1–5

  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. …

Ceremony attested by witnesses

• Ruth 4:1–11

  Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: …

• Isaiah 8:1–3

  Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

The groom exempt one year from military duty

• Deuteronomy 24:5

  When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

Bridal ornaments

• Isaiah 49:18

  Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

• Jeremiah 2:32

  Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Bridal presents

• Genesis 24:53

  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.

• Psalms 45:12

  And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

A herald preceded the bridegroom

• Matthew 25:6

  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Wedding robes adorned with jewels

• Isaiah 61:10

  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Wives obtained

Given by Kings

• 1 Samuel 17:25

  And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

• 1 Samuel 18:17

  And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

• 1 Samuel 18:21

  And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

Daughters given in, as rewards of valor

• Judges 1:12

  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

• 1 Samuel 17:25

  And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

• 1 Samuel 18:27

  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.

Wives taken by edict

• Esther 2:2–4

  Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

• Esther 2:8–14

  So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. …

David gave one hundred Philistine foreskins for a wife

• 2 Samuel 3:14

  And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

Wives among the Israelites must be Israelites

• Exodus 34:16

  And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

• Deuteronomy 7:3

  Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

• Deuteronomy 7:4

  For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

• 1 Chronicles 23:22

  And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.

• Ezra 9:1

  Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

• Ezra 9:2

  For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

• Ezra 9:12

  Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

• Nehemiah 10:30

  And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

• Nehemiah 13:26

  Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

• Nehemiah 13:27

  Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

• Malachi 2:11

  Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

• 1 Corinthians 7:39

  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

• 2 Corinthians 6:14

  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Betrothal a quasi-marriage

• Matthew 1:18

  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

• Luke 1:27

  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Betrothal made with the spirit

• Ezekiel 16:8

  Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

Celibacy deplored

• Judges 11:38

  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.

• Isaiah 4:1

  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 thy name, to take away our reproach.

• Jeremiah 16:9

  For thus saith 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.

Advised

• 1 Corinthians 7:7

  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

• 1 Corinthians 7:8

  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

• 1 Corinthians 7:24–40

  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. …

Obligations under, inferior to duty to God

• Deuteronomy 13:6–10

  If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: …

• Matthew 19:29

  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

• Luke 14:26

  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Not binding after death

• Matthew 22:29

  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

• Matthew 22:30

  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

• Mark 12:24

  And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

• Mark 12:25

  For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Unclassified scriptures relating to

• Genesis 2:23

  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

• Genesis 2:24

  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

• Exodus 22:16

  And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.

• Exodus 22:17

  If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

• Leviticus 18:6–18

  None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. …

• Leviticus 20:14

  And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

• Leviticus 20:17

  And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.

• Leviticus 20:19–21

  And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity. And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

• Leviticus 21:1

  And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

• Leviticus 21:7

  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 21:13–15

  And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 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. Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.

• Numbers 36:8

  And every daughter, that possesseth an 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.

• Deuteronomy 21:10–14

  When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife; Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; …

• Deuteronomy 24:1–5

  When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath 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. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; …

• Proverbs 18:22

  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

• Proverbs 21:9

  It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

• Proverbs 21:19

  It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

• Jeremiah 29:6

  Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

• Hosea 2:19

  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

• Hosea 2:20

  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.

• Malachi 2:13–16

  And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. …

• Matthew 5:31

  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

• Matthew 5:32

  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

• Mark 6:17

  For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

• Mark 6:18

  For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

• Mark 10:2–12

  And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. …

• Matthew 19:2–9

  And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, …

• Luke 16:18

  Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

• Romans 7:1–3

  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, 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.

• 1 Corinthians 6:16

  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

• 1 Corinthians 7:1–40

  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. …

• 1 Corinthians 9:5

  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

• 1 Corinthians 11:11

  Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

• 1 Corinthians 11:12

  For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

• 1 Timothy 3:2

  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

• 1 Timothy 3:12

  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

• 1 Timothy 4:1

  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

• 1 Timothy 4:3

  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

• 1 Timothy 5:14

  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

• Hebrews 13:4

  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Figurative

• Isaiah 54:5

  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

• Isaiah 62:4

  Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

• Isaiah 62:5

  For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

• Jeremiah 3:14

  Turn, O backsliding children, saith 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 31:32

  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

• Hosea 1:2

  The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

• Hosea 2:19

  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

• Hosea 2:20

  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.

• Ephesians 5:30–32

  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 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. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

• Revelation 19:7–9

  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.