physical abuse in marriage
What does the Bible say about physical abuse in marriage? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
16 passages · most helpful first
19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,
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.
4Charity is patient, is kind. Charity does not envy, does not act wrongly, is not inflated. 5Charity is not ambitious, does not seek for itself, is not provoked to anger, devises no evil. 6Charity does not rejoice over iniquity, but rejoices in truth. 7Charity suffers all, believes all, hopes all, endures all.
4May marriage be honorable in every way, and may the marriage bed be immaculate. For God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
1Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband. 4It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body. 5So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence. 6But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.
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.
13Temptation should not take hold of you, except what is human. For God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your ability. Instead, he will effect his Providence, even during temptation, so that you may be able to bear it.
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?
14You shall not commit adultery.
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.
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.
17So if anyone is a new creature in Christ, what is old has passed away. Behold, all things have been made new.
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.
18Let your spring be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth: 19a beloved doe and most pleasing fawn. Let her breasts inebriate you at all times. Be delighted continually by her love.
21Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.