Foundations for a Biblical Marriage

When we elaborate on the concept of marriage today, different people have different ideas. But there is really only one source that can reveal to us the foundations of a biblical marriage: the Bible itself.

I will discuss the subject of marriage in more detail in future articles. But first, let’s lay some groundwork and examine what a biblical marriage really is.

The first couple

There is no better place than the Garden of Eden to learn more about how God envisioned marriage. In the very first chapter of the Bible, we are told of the creation of man and woman.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27, KJV)

Even in these first verses, we see essential principles that should be reflected in our marriages. First, we acknowledge that both man and woman are created in the image of God. They are absolutely equal in that relationship.

If both have something divine in them, then there can be no hierarchy between them. Man and woman are of equal rank and value, and can only fully carry the image of God to the earth when they unite their respective divine parts. It is in the unity of marriage that God can become visible on earth.

But there is another important piece of information about biblical marriage that we can glean from the opening verses of the Bible.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26, KJV)

Man has been destined to have dominion over the earth since his creation. But this does not mean that a man or a woman should rule, and the other partner should be his or her appendage. Rather, the mandate to rule is for both. Therefore, effective rule according to God’s plan is only possible together.

How Adam came to Eve

The first biblical marriage was between Adam and his wife, Eve. It is interesting to note, however, that Adam was first created alone.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7, KJV)

God later decided that it was not good for Adam to be alone. He wanted to make him a helper (Genesis 2:18). This helper was taken out of Adam’s rib. So Eve was a part of him.

But it was not an inferior part. Together with the sternum, the ribs form the rib cage. This is responsible for protecting the human heart and lungs. From this, we can see the role of the woman in a biblical marriage. But we will return to this in another article.

However, we already know that Adam and Eve were equal in the Garden of Eden.

Some more basic facts about biblical marriage

Now let’s take a look at some basic principles of biblical marriage using a few scriptures. Firstly, a marriage can only be between a man and a woman. All other forms of cohabitation are not marriages according to the biblical model. Rather, they are to be regarded as sin.

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (Leviticus 18:22, KJV)

Furthermore, marriage is an exclusive covenant between the spouses. No one else is to interfere with it. Not even a second wife or other men. Although there are examples of polygamy in the Bible, living with multiple husbands or wives is not the ideal. In fact, it is a sin.

Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time . (Leviticus 18:18, KJV)

Although the word “sister” could theoretically refer to a physical relative of the woman, but the wording of the verse indicates that this was a different woman. At the very least, however, we can conclude that Adam also had only one wife, and that this is most likely the ideal for a biblical marriage.

As a final point, we should note that sexuality is to be reserved exclusively for the marriage relationship. We see this, among other things, in the fact that men who seduced a virgin had to take her as their wife.

And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. (Exodus 22:16, KJV)

The Torah does not permit sexuality without marriage. This also applies to modern marriages based on the biblical model.

Conclusion on biblical marriage

As we can see, one of the most important foundations of a biblical marriage is the equality of both partners in the covenant. It is true that women and men are made differently and therefore fulfill different roles.

But only by complementing each other can the image of God be made visible on earth. And it is only in this way that the two can have dominion over the earth.

And that is the purpose of marriage. To represent God on earth. If we know how to have a biblical marriage, then the people around us can see God in that marriage, and we can take true dominion over our lives.

This article was first published in German language on my blog Torah-in-Family.de. You can also read it on Medium.com