Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Biblical Context:The concept of marriage is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, serving as a foundational institution established by God. Marriage is defined as a covenantal union between a man and a woman, designed for companionship, procreation, and mutual support. It is a sacred bond that reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church.
Old Testament Foundations:The institution of marriage is first introduced in the Book of Genesis. In
Genesis 2:24 , it is written, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This verse underscores the divine intention for marriage to be a lifelong, exclusive union. The creation narrative highlights the complementary nature of man and woman, as seen in
Genesis 2:18 : "The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"
Throughout the Old Testament, marriage is portrayed as a covenantal relationship.
Malachi 2:14 emphasizes this, stating, "The LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant."
New Testament Teachings:In the New Testament, Jesus reaffirms the sanctity of marriage. In
Matthew 19:4-6 , He states, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
The Apostle Paul further elaborates on the spiritual significance of marriage in
Ephesians 5:31-32 , where he writes, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church." Here, marriage is depicted as a living metaphor for the union between Christ and His Church, characterized by love, sacrifice, and unity.
Roles and Responsibilities:The Bible outlines specific roles and responsibilities within the marriage relationship. Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loved the Church (
Ephesians 5:25). Wives are encouraged to respect and submit to their husbands as unto the Lord (
Ephesians 5:22-24). These roles are intended to foster harmony and reflect the divine order within the family unit.
Marriage and Family:Marriage is also the context for raising children and building a family.
Psalm 127:3-5 describes children as a heritage from the Lord, emphasizing the importance of family within the biblical framework. The family unit is seen as the primary context for spiritual instruction and growth, as outlined in
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 : "These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children."
Marriage and Society:In biblical times, marriage was not only a personal commitment but also a social contract that affected the wider community. The stability of marriage was seen as essential for the well-being of society.
Proverbs 18:22 states, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD," highlighting the blessings that marriage brings to individuals and communities.
Conclusion:The biblical view of marriage is one of a sacred, covenantal relationship ordained by God. It is designed to reflect His love and faithfulness, providing a framework for companionship, procreation, and spiritual growth. Through marriage, individuals are called to live out the principles of love, respect, and unity, serving as a testament to God's divine plan for humanity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To unite in wedlock or matrimony; to perform the ceremony of joining, as a man and a woman, for life; to constitute (a man and a woman) husband and wife according to the laws or customs of the place.
2. (v. t.) To join according to law, (a man) to a woman as his wife, or (a woman) to a man as her husband.
3. (v. t.) To dispose of in wedlock; to give away as wife.
4. (v. t.) To take for husband or wife.
5. (v. t.) Figuratively, to unite in the closest and most endearing relation.
6. (v. i.) To enter into the conjugal or connubial state; to take a husband or a wife.
7. (interj.) Indeed ! in truth ! -- a term of asseveration said to have been derived from the practice of swearing by the Virgin Mary.
Greek
1060. gameo -- tomarry... to
marry. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: gameo Phonetic Spelling:
(gam-eh'-o) Short Definition: I
marry Definition: I
marry, used of either sex.
...1918. epigambreuo -- tomarry
... tomarry. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epigambreuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-gam-bryoo'-o) Short Definition: Imarry a deceased brother's wife...
1547. ekgamizo -- give in marriage.
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekgamizo Phonetic Spelling: (ek-gam-id'-zo)
Short Definition: I give in marriage,marry Definition: I give in marriage...
3565. numphe -- a bride, a young woman
... From a primary but obsolete verb nupto (to veil as a bride; compare Latin "nupto,"
tomarry); a young married woman (as veiled), including a betrothed girl; by...
2983. lambano -- to take, receive
... 1), conferred* (2), conspired* (1), consulted* (1), experienced* (1), forgotten*
(1), gets (1), gripped (1), incur (1), married (2),marry (2), obtained (1...
Strong's Hebrew
1166. baal -- tomarry, rule over... 1165, 1166. baal. 1167 . to
marry, rule over. Transliteration: baal Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-al') Short Definition: married. Word Origin a prim.
...2992. yabam -- to perform the duty of a husband's brother
... the duty (2), perform your duty (1). perform the duty of a husband's brother,
marry. A primitive root of doubtful meaning; used only...
3427. yashab -- to sit, remain, dwell
... In ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle,
tomarry -- (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing...
802. ishshah -- woman, wife, female
... woman (1), every (1), everyone (1), female (3), girls* (1), harem* (5), harlot's*
(2), harlot* (3), marriage (9), married (3), married* (6),marry* (3), none...
3947. laqach -- to take
... 1), find (1), flashing (1), flashing forth (1), get (25), gets (1), got (2), has
(1), keep (1), married (9), married* (6), marries (1),marry (5), obtain (1...
5275. naal -- a sandal, shoe
... A sandal or slipper (sometimes as a symbol of occupancy, a refusal tomarry, or
of something valueless) -- dryshod, (pair of) shoe((-latchet), -s)....
5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... 2), left hanging (1), lend (1), lends (1), let (7), lies* (1), lift (5), lifts
(1), made (43), made turn (3), make (66), makes (3), making (3),marry off (1...
1961. hayah -- to fall out, come to pass, become, be
... 2), held (1), help* (1), indeed (1), keep* (1), lasted (1), lasts (1), lay (2),
left (2), lies (1), lived* (1), lives (1), made (3),marry* (4), marrying* (1...
376. ish -- man
... against another (1), man of each (1), man the men (1), man your husband (1), man's
(21), man's are the men (1), manchild (1), mankind* (1),marry* (1), marrying...
1350. gaal -- to redeem, act as kinsman
... A primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), ie To be
the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property,marry his widow...
Library
Wesley Decides toMarry
... Chapter 9. Wesley's Marriage; Dealings with Cornwall Smugglers; His Illness
and Recovery Wesley Decides toMarry. Friday, February...
Whether a Believer CanMarry an Unbeliever?
... OF DISPARITY OF WORSHIP AS AN IMPEDIMENT TO MARRIAGE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether
a believer canmarry an unbeliever? Objection 1: It...
Whether a Slave CanMarry Without his Master's Consent?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF THE CONDITION OF SLAVERY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
a slave canmarry without his master's consent? Objection...
Whether a Husband CanMarry Again after Having a Divorce?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT THAT SUPERVENES TO MARRIAGE AFTER ITS CONSUMMATION, NAMELY
FORNICATION (SIX ARTICLES) Whether a husband canmarry again after having a divorce...
If a PresbyterMarry, Let Him be Removed from his Order...
... Canon I. If a presbytermarry, let him be removed from his order? If a
presbytermarry, let him be removed from his order; but...
Better toMarry than to Burn.
... Homily V. Chapter XXV."Better toMarry Than to Burn. "Since, therefore,
the erotic desire occurs for the sake of continuation...
Whether one Can be Compelled by One's Father's Command toMarry?
... OF COMPULSORY AND CONDITIONAL CONSENT (SIX ARTICLES) Whether one can be
compelled by one's father's command tomarry? Objection...
The Members of the Church Shall not IndiscriminatelyMarry their...
... Canon X. The members of the Church shall not indiscriminatelymarry their children
to heretics.?... Ancient Epitome of Canon X. Thou shalt notmarry a heretic....
They who have Been Made Deacons, Declaring when they were Ordained...
... Canon X. They who have been made deacons, declaring when they were ordained
that they mustmarry? They who have been made deacons...
Faustus Repels the Insinuation that the Prophecy of Paul with...
... Book XXX. Faustus repels the insinuation that the prophecy of Paul with reference
to those that should forbid tomarry. Faustus repels...
Thesaurus
Marry (48 Occurrences)... a term of asseveration said to have been derived from the practice of swearing by
the Virgin Mary. Multi-Version Concordance
Marry (48 Occurrences).
...Divorced (10 Occurrences)
... I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of
fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shallmarry her that...
Widow (71 Occurrences)
... Matthew 22:24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses enjoined, 'If a man die childless, his
brother shallmarry his widow, and raise up a family for him.' (WEY RSV NIV)....
Whoredom (58 Occurrences)
... 32 but I -- I say to you, that whoever may put away his wife, save for the matter
of whoredom, doth make her to commit adultery; and whoever maymarry her who...
Marital (4 Occurrences)
... 32 but I -- I say to you, that whoever may put away his wife, save for the matter
of whoredom, doth make her to commit adultery; and whoever maymarry her who...
Marries (20 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 7:28 But if youmarry, you have not sinned.... 1 Corinthians 7:38 So that
he that marries himself does well; and he that does notmarry does better....
Continency (1 Occurrence)
... American), "to contain" the King James Version): Paul, although he would that all
men were like himself unmarried, yet advises that they shouldmarry if they...
Committeth (22 Occurrences)
... I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of
fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shallmarry her that...
Wife (437 Occurrences)
... The right to inherit the widow soon became a duty tomarry her if the deceased had
left no sons, and in case there was no brother-in-law, the duty of marriage...
Burn (206 Occurrences)
... (2) puroo, used twice, once in the sense of inflamed with sexual desire (1 Corinthians
7:9), "For it is better tomarry than to burn" and in 2 Corinthians 11...
Resources
Does Deuteronomy 22:28-29 command a rape victim to marry her rapist? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that it is better to marry than to burn in 1 Corinthians 7:9? | GotQuestions.orgIs it possible to marry the wrong person? | GotQuestions.orgMarry: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
