What Does the Bible Say About Better Not To Marry?

Matthew 19:10-12 ESV / 48 helpful votes

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

1 Corinthians 7:7-9 ESV / 45 helpful votes

I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Matthew 22:30 ESV / 33 helpful votes

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

1 Corinthians 7:1-40 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 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 tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ...

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Mark 10:2-12 ESV / 16 helpful votes

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ...

Leviticus 20:13 ESV / 14 helpful votes

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 7:38-40 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

Matthew 19:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 9 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

1 Corinthians 14:34 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

1 Timothy 5:14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.

1 Corinthians 7:29 ESV / 7 helpful votes

This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Matthew 19:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

Matthew 9:1-30 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ...

Leviticus 18:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Matthew 19:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?”

Matthew 5:32 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Ephesians 5:31 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Song of Solomon 1:1-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you. Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you. I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. ...

Titus 1:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— ...

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

1 Corinthians 7:39-40 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

Romans 5:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

Romans 1:26-27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Luke 16:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

Mark 10:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,

Matthew 5:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...

2 Samuel 1:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

1 Corinthians 7:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.

1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

Romans 1:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

Matthew 19:1-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? ...

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Deuteronomy 22:13-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then hates her and accuses her of misconduct and brings a bad name upon her, saying, ‘I took this woman, and when I came near her, I did not find in her evidence of virginity,’ then the father of the young woman and her mother shall take and bring out the evidence of her virginity to the elders of the city in the gate. And the father of the young woman shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man to marry, and he hates her; and behold, he has accused her of misconduct, saying, “I did not find in your daughter evidence of virginity.” And yet this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.’ And they shall spread the cloak before the elders of the city. ...

Genesis 2:18-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ...

Matthew 19:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

Matthew 19:1-30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? ...

2 Samuel 5:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.

Exodus 21:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights.

Exodus 20:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You shall not commit adultery.

Genesis 19:1-38 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” ...

51 Bible Verses about Better Not To Marry

Matthew 19:10-12 ESV / 48 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:7-9 ESV / 45 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:30 ESV / 33 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:1-40 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 10:2-12 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 20:13 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:38-40 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:34 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 5:14 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:29 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:1-30 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 18:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:32 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:31 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Song of Solomon 1:1-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 1:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:39-40 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:26-27 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 16:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 10:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Samuel 1:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:1-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 22:13-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:18-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:1-30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Samuel 5:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 21:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 19:1-38 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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