
Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Marriage Vows?
15 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Marriage Vows in the Bible
Discover 20 powerful Bible verses about marriage vows. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential love & relationships topic.
Top 10 Verses About Marriage Vows
- 1Genesis 2:18
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. meet: Heb. as before him”
KJV - 2Genesis 2:24
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
KJV - 3Numbers 30:1
“And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.”
KJV - 4Ecclesiastes 5:4
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.”
KJV - 5Ecclesiastes 9:9
“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Live: Heb. See, or, Enjoy life”
KJV - 6Malachi 2:16
“For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. that he: or, if he hate her, put her away putting: Heb. to put away”
KJV - 7Matthew 5:32
“But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
KJV - 8Matthew 19:3
“The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?”
KJV - 9Matthew 19:9
“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
KJV - 10Romans 7:2
“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Marriage Vows? (6 Verses)
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. meet: Heb. as before him”
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
“And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.”
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.”
“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Live: Heb. See, or, Enjoy life”
“For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. that he: or, if he hate her, put her away putting: Heb. to put away”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Marriage Vows? (9 Verses)
“But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
“The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?”
“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.”
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”
“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Marriage Vows
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about marriage vows. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about marriage vows and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about marriage vows is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on marriage vows needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about marriage vows with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about marriage vows, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Marriage Vows?
You have studied 15 verses about marriage vows. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.