Questions tagged [marriage]
Questions about Biblical texts discussing marriage
83
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(John 2:1) The mother of Jesus
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there
It seems to me that "the mother of Jesus" is never explicitly named, but always listed as his ...
2
votes
2answers
175 views
What age should we understand Samson, his bride and his bride's younger sister as being?
In Judges 14, Samson gets his parents to arrange a marriage with a certain Philistine maid. She is then given in marriage to one of Samson's companions. Then the wife's father offers the younger ...
5
votes
2answers
161 views
Does Song of Solomon 8:1 suggest that kissing before marriage was “despised” in Bible times?
Song of Solomon 8:1 reads thus (NKJV):
Oh, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised.
In other words, ...
1
vote
0answers
45 views
Didn't Pharisees have to have been married? [closed]
We know that Paul, a Pharisee, is single as he writes his First Letter to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 7:8: "But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain ...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
In 1 Corinthians 7:39 does “only in the Lord” modify “be married” (how she marries) or “whom” (the one she marries)?
1 Corinthians 7:39 says,
"A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord" (NKJV, emphasis ...
2
votes
5answers
94 views
Can the spouse of a believer be sanctified by simply being married to the believer?
In 1 Cor 7:14, it is implied that an unbelieving spouse, of a believer, may also be made holy in God's eyes but only if that spouse comes around to the believer's stance with God. It is also implied ...
1
vote
3answers
209 views
When God created Adam and Eve and the covenant of marriage between the two, did He already have the marriage between Christ and the Church in mind? [closed]
The union between man and woman, which we currently understand as the covenant of marriage, was part of God's original plan for His creation according to Genesis 2:
20 The man gave names to all ...
1
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1answer
25 views
In Numbers 30:15 - Does the Husband become “sinful” when revoking His wife's prohibitions?
In [Numbers 30], a punishment appears to be enforced upon an Israeli Husband who revokes his wife's vows to God. The Torah offers a merciful condition for a wife whose prohibitions [vows to God for ...
5
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3answers
2k views
Why did God bless Abraham's marriage with Sarah if she was his sister and incestuous relationships are categorically prohibited in Scripture?
Abraham married his sister:
11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister,...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Is there anything positive to be learned from biblical examples of polygamy? [closed]
Is there anything positive to be learned from the examples of polygamy in the Bible? Generally they are treated merely as beacons warning us against that path, but it seems strange to have so many ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
What are the alternatives to marriage in 1 Cor 7:9?
1 Cor 7:8-9 (NRSV)
To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am.
But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to ...
0
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1answer
42 views
The Church, and denominations. — I'm confused. — “Denominations” are not in any unison. I thought Christ wanted us to be all ONE [closed]
Christ is The Groom, the Church (that HE established in fulfillment of the old order) is the Bride. In the last 500 years there's been a substantial influx of "denominations." Why? Doesn't ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
1 Corinthians 7:5 - Satan's Temptation and Lack of Self-Control
1 Corinthians 7:5 (ESV),
5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not ...
2
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3answers
163 views
Did God intend to only “Join” man to his wife - physically or spiritually?
We first learn that "YHVH Elohim" (יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים) brought Ishah to Ha-Adam, and-"joined" (וְ-דָבַ֣ק) the man to his wife in Bereishit / Genesis 2:22-24. * Later during the ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Is singleness better than marriage? (Help understanding 1 Corinthians 7)
The Bible says we should only be concerned with the things of the Lord, that we should be totally devoted to worshiping him and pleasing him. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7 seems to be saying that marriage ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
As a bride prepared for her husband - Revelation 21:2
Revelation 21:2 (ESV),
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Considering the geographical and historical context of ...
8
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6answers
412 views
Why does God not just permit but seemingly encourage David's polygamy in 2 Samuel 12:8?
I'm hoping you can help. I'm struggling with a verse that seemingly supports God's approval of concubinage and taking of many wives.
The context here has to do with David's lust for more women.
2 ...
3
votes
1answer
28 views
Can a way Christ's mission to “fulfill” the law be understood as finishing the marriage between God and Israel through his death? [closed]
Can a way Christ's mission to "fulfill" the law (Mat 5:17-18) be understood as finishing ("It is finished" John 19:30 b) the marriage between God and Israel through his death? Thus ...
3
votes
1answer
251 views
Would Matthew contradict Mark and Luke about remarriage after divorce?
The Lord Jesus describes a very straightforward and plainly understood rule in the Gospels of Mark and Luke, concerning remarriage after divorce: it is adultery(1). But in the gospel of Matthew, it is ...
1
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2answers
106 views
Did Paul have it backwards? Ephesians 5:33
It appears to me that Paul has it backwards. I’ve struggled to understand this verse.
Men understand respect, it comes naturally to a man yet he asks the husbands to love the wives; and wives tend ...
0
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1answer
167 views
Does Deuteronomy 25:5-10 supersede Leviticus 18:16, or vice versa?
Leviticus 18:16, (DRB):
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: because it is the nakedness of thy brother.
Deuteronomy 25:5-10, (DRB):
Widowhood and Marriage
5When ...
3
votes
3answers
246 views
Does Genesis 2:24 speak exclusively to male-female copulation?
This answer to another question makes a strong case that Genesis 2:24 refers to conception as the thing that makes two into "one flesh". If so, then it seems same-sex activities would not result in "...
1
vote
1answer
93 views
Rebekah's rash/brash/hasty willingness to bear curses become reality for her in Genesis 27:46
Genesis 26:34-35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
34 When Esau was
forty years old he [ae]married Judith the daughter of Beeri the
Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; 35 ...
2
votes
1answer
384 views
(1 Kings 21:7) is Jezebel a wife that belittles/mistreats her husband or is she a wife who encourages King Ahab, her husband?
Could someone please provide their insight on how Jezebel treats Ahab?
A specific verse that is interesting to me is 1 Kings 21:7. To elaborate, in 1 Kings 21:7, Jezebel's reaction to Ahab's ...
2
votes
1answer
154 views
In the culture of Corinth in Paul's time, what does being “engaged” mean?
1 Corinthians 7:36-38, NIV: "36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, ...
2
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3answers
324 views
Is the father of the raped woman in Deuteronomy 22:28-29 able to refuse marriage?
28 If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
What is significant about “only in the Lord” with regards to widows remarrying? 1 Corinthians 7:39
The verse is clearly about widows but I am most concerned with the hermeneutics of the phrase “only in the Lord”; considering Apostle Paul did not say for instance, only with another believer or ...
0
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0answers
84 views
Did King Saul cunningly calculate that Michal's arrogance & spiteful nature would be a snare to David? (1 Samuel 18:20-21) & (2 Samuel 6:16-20)
I present the following passage as evidence of Michal's arrogant and spiteful nature:
2 Samuel 6:16-20, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
16Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city ...
4
votes
2answers
850 views
Does God 'forbid' marrying a divorcee?
The apostle Paul write in 1 Corinthians 7, verse 10-11 that
And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the
wife depart from her husband:
But and if she depart, let her ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
1 Cor. 7:5 “προς καιρόν” = “perhaps”?
Why do some translations have a "perhaps" in 1 Cor. 7:5:
Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, ...
1
vote
2answers
292 views
Intimacy before marriage [closed]
Many pastors in today Christian world have strict rules for intimacy before marriage. Although I'm not against it, I prefer strong biblical references for any Christian principle that Christians ...
3
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2answers
1k views
In light of Exodus 22:16-17, does a man who seduces a virgin become her husband ipso facto?
My question was inspired by this, which was closed for being "off-topic" yet nevertheless contained some interesting food for thought.
Consider the following passage from Exodus.
(Exodus 22:16-17, ...
2
votes
1answer
246 views
In Luke 5:33-35 does Jesus imply that the Twelve are not part of the bride of the Lamb?
Update
I have been researching this and it appears that the whole matter hangs on the definition of "the sons of the bridechamber" which is not obvious to me:
KJV Luke 5:34 And he said unto them, ...
1
vote
3answers
348 views
Can εἰ μή (ei me) be translated 'such as' instead of 'except' in Matthew 19:9?
And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.
We know, that adultery is not the only cause to divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4 and ...
0
votes
3answers
985 views
In Matthew 19:10 why did Jesus' disciples ask Jesus if it is better not to marry?
There is a question, to Jesus, whether a man can divorce his wife for any reason.
Shammai and Hillel are the pharisees school of thought at that time.
Hillel the liberal jew says that you can ...
3
votes
2answers
889 views
In 1 Corinthians 7:11-15 does Paul consider “separation” an alternative to divorce?
Does Paul write in 1 Corinthians 7:11-15 about divorce OR separation? The original (Greek) text seems to be here quite clear, but church' interpretation still doesn't see difference:
KJV 1Co 7:11 ...
0
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1answer
190 views
In Ephesians 5:2 and 5:25 what does Paul mean by ἑαυτὸν παρέδωκεν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς?
Ephesians 5:2 and 5:25 are normally taken to refer to Christ dying for the Assembly ("Church"):
Westcott and Hort / [NA27 variants]
Ephesians 5:2 καὶ περιπατεῖτε ἐν ἀγάπῃ, καθὼς καὶ ὁ χριστὸς ...
3
votes
2answers
210 views
In John 4:18 is Jesus accusing the woman at the well of fornication or of adultery?
John 4:18 reports Jesus saying οὐκ ἔστιν σου ἀνήρ. Does the οὐκ govern σου or ἀνήρ? If the former, does it mean he’s a man but he’s not yours; and if the latter, does it imply he’s not a man, since ...
4
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3answers
403 views
Is Leviticus 21:4 about a “chief”, “husband” or a “close relative”?
The Hebrew reads,
לֹא יִטַּמָּא בַּעַל בְּעַמָּיו לְהֵחַלּוֹ
There is disagreement between the translations as to how exactly we should translate this passage. The NET and KJV translations ...
2
votes
3answers
150 views
Is δέ in Eph. 5:32 an adversative or copulative particle?
Eph. 5:32:
This is a great sacrament; but [autem / δὲ] I speak in Christ and in the church.
Some English translations say "and" instead of "but". Translating "δὲ" as "but" would seem to exclude ...
1
vote
3answers
615 views
In 1 Peter 3:7, why does Peter refer to the wives as weaker?
The thrust of 1 Peter 2:13-3:7 seems to be about living differently in existing relationships "for the Lord's sake" because we have been changed - note 2:13 "for the Lord's sake...", 3:1 "in the same ...
5
votes
4answers
959 views
The original Hebrew of Malachi 2:16
I pose a question about the original Hebrew hermeneutics of this passage. The MT of Malachi 2:16 reads:
כִּֽי־ שָׂנֵ֣א שַׁלַּ֗ח אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְכִסָּ֤ה חָמָס֙ עַל־לְבוּשׁ֔וֹ ...
8
votes
1answer
799 views
Is there any ambiguity in Luke 2:5 to whether Mary and Joseph were already married?
From a comparison of various translations of Luke 2:5 it seems there might be some ambiguity in this verse as to whether Mary and Joseph were married by the time they were traveling to Bethlehem. Some ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Is Matthew's reference to “eunuchs” in Matthew 19:10-12 referring to celibacy?
Matthew 19:12 seems to suggest spiritual benefit from being a eunuch such that some might be led to make themselves eunuchs (castrate themselves) for the sake of the kingdom:
BLB Matthew 19: 10His ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
What does Lev 18:18 “Rival Wife” Mean?
Leviticus 18:18 (NIV):
Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.
I always wondered why it says it like this. Instead of, "do not ...
5
votes
6answers
2k views
In the parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25 vs 1 - 8), who is the groom coming to marry? In other words who is the bride?
Who is the bride in this passage of scripture? The virgins are just preparing the way, and the groom is present, but the bride is not mentioned.
1
vote
1answer
693 views
Did God actually divorce Israel?
This is found in Jeremiah 3:8 (NIV)
I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she ...
2
votes
4answers
4k views
Is “rape” the correct interpretation of the “עִנִּיתָֽהּ” in Deuteronomy 21:10-14?
Deuteronomy 21:10-14 (NAU)
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take them away captive, and see among the captives a beautiful ...
0
votes
3answers
496 views
Does Paul allow divorced believers to remain as they are within the church in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11?
10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that
the wife should not leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she
must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her ...
-1
votes
1answer
144 views
Does the precept “Marry in the Lord” (i.e. with a believer) in 1 Corinthians 7:39 apply only to widows?
39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is
dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 7:39 (NASB)
Does the precept "Marry in ...
