man and wife
What does the Bible say about man and wife? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
12 passages · most helpful first
24For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh.
22Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body. 24Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her, 26so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life, 27so that he might offer her to himself as a glorious Church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she would be holy and immaculate.
22He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.
18The Lord God also said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. Let us make a helper for him similar to himself.”
3So I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ. But the head of woman is man. Yet truly, the head of Christ is God.
4May marriage be honorable in every way, and may the marriage bed be immaculate. For God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
6And so, now they are not two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.”
10Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price. 11The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils. 12She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,
33Yet truly, each and every one of you should love his wife as himself. And a wife should fear her husband.
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.
10But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband. 11But if she has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.