abuse in a marriage
What does the Bible say about abuse in a marriage? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
13 passages · most helpful first
19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.
7Similarly, you husbands should live with them in accord with knowledge, bestowing honor on the female as the weaker vessel and as co-heirs of the life of grace, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
10Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,
28So, too, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
1A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury.
16If you would hold hatred, dismiss her, says the Lord, the God of Israel. But iniquity will cover his garment, says the Lord of hosts. Preserve your spirit, and do not be willing to despise.
14Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness?
2to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men.
32And be kind and merciful to one another, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you in Christ.
12Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead they are holy. 15But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace. 16And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
4May marriage be honorable in every way, and may the marriage bed be immaculate. For God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
32But I say to you, that anyone who will have dismissed his wife, except in the case of fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever will have married her who has been dismissed commits adultery.