Marriage

How Nave’s arranged it

• Consanguinous, Abraham and SarahGenesis 11:29Genesis 12:13Genesis 20:3Genesis 20:9–16
• Isaac and RebekahGenesis 24:3Genesis 24:4Genesis 24:67Genesis 28:2
• Jacob and his wivesGenesis 29:15–30
• See below, in the elaborated text
• Levirate (the brother required to marry a brother's widow)Genesis 38:8Genesis 38:11Deuteronomy 25:5–10Ruth 4:5Matthew 22:24Mark 12:19–23Luke 20:28
• Parents contract for their children
• Hagar selects a wife for IshmaelGenesis 21:21
• Abraham for IsaacGenesis 24
• Laban arranges for his daughters' marriageGenesis 29
• Samson asks his parents to procure him a wifeJudges 14:2
• Parents' consent requires in the Mosaic lawExodus 22:17
• Presents given to parents to secure their favorGenesis 24:53Genesis 34:12Deuteronomy 22:291 Samuel 18:25Hosea 3:2

The passages, in Bible order (130)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 2:23

   And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 2:232 voices

   “(Verse 23.) Now this is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. It does not seem to sound in Greek and Latin why she is called Woman, because she was taken out of Man; but the etymology is preserved in the Hebrew language. For Man is called 'Is', and Woman is called 'Issa'. Therefore, she was rightly called Woman from Man.

   “Whether the primeval man was conscious of the change in himself, and of the work of the Supreme Being while it was going on, or received supernatural information of the event when he awoke, does not appear. But he is perfectly aware of the nature of her who now for the first time appears before his eyes.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 2:23→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 2:24

   For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 2:242 voices

   “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother - There shall be, by the order of God, a more intimate connection formed between the man and woman, than can subsist even between parents and children. And they shall be one flesh - These words may be understood in a twofold sense. 1. These two shall be one flesh, shall be considered as one body, having no separate or independent rights, privileges, cares, concerns, etc., each being equally interested in all things that concern the marriage state.

   “It appears by Matt. xix, 4, 5, that it was God himself who said here, a man must leave all his relations to cleave to his wife; but whether he spake it by Moses or by Adam who spake, ver. 23 is uncertain: It should seem they are the words of Adam in God's name, laying down this law to all his posterity.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 2:24→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 11:29

   And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 11:292 voices

   “(Verse 29) And Abram and Nachor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nachor's wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran. The father of Milcah was also the father of Iscah. Haran fathered two daughters, Milcah and Iscah, who were both called by the same name. Of these, Milcah became the wife of Nachor, and Sarai became the wife of Abram. At that time, marriage between cousins and between siblings was not yet prohibited by law, as it later became among all people, even among brothers and sisters.

   “Milcah, the daughter of Haran - Many suppose Sarai and Iscah are the same person under two different names; but this is improbable, as Iscah is expressly said to be the daughter of Haran, and Sarai was the daughter of Terah, and half sister of Abram.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 11:29→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 12:13

   Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 12:132 voices

   “The counsel of Abram to her was true in words, but it was a deception, intended to give an impression that she was no more than his sister. His conduct was culpable and inconsistent with his character as a servant of God: it showed a reliance on worldly policy more than a trust in the promise; and he not only sinned himself, but tempted Sarai to sin also.

   “Say thou art my sister - The grace Abram was most eminent for was faith, and yet he thus fell through unbelief and distrust of the divine Providence, even after God had appeared to him twice.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 12:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Genesis 20:3

   One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 20:32 voices

   “But God came to Abimelech in a dream - It appears by this that God revealed himself by dreams, which evidenced themselves to be divine and supernatural, not only to his servants the prophets, but even to those that were out of the pale of the church; but then usually it was with some regard to God's own people.

   “But God came to Abimelech - Thus we find that persons who were not of the family of Abraham had the knowledge of the true God. Indeed, all the Gerarites are termed גוי צדיק goi tsaddik, a righteous nation, Gen 20:4.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 20:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Genesis 20:9–16

   Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 20:9–162 voices

   “Who would not rather be in the place of Abimelech than of the honored but sadly offending patriarch! What a dignified attitude is that of the king--calmly and justly reproving the sin of the patriarch, but respecting his person and heaping coals of fire on his head by the liberal presents made to him.

   “(1.) He calls that sin which he now found he had been in danger of a great sin. Note, Even the light of nature teaches men that the sin of adultery is a very great sin: be it observed, to the shame of many who call themselves Christians, and yet make a light matter of it.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 20:9–16→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Genesis 21:21

   And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 21:211 voice

   “He dwelt in the wilderness of Paran - This is generally allowed to have been a part of the desert belonging to Arabia Petraea, in the vicinity of Mount Sinai; and this seems to be its uniform meaning in the sacred writings.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 21:21→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Genesis 24:1

   By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 24:12 voices

   “The old age of Abraham was indeed yet green, as we shall see hereafter; but when he reckoned up his own years he deemed it time to consult for the welfare of his son.

   “And Abraham was old . . . take a wife--His anxiety to see his son married was natural to his position as a pastoral chief interested in preserving the honor of his tribe, and still more as a patriarch who had regard to the divine promise of a numerous posterity.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 24:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Genesis 24:3

   and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 24:31 voice

   “Thus God swears his servants to their work, that, having sworn, they may perform it. Honour is here done to the eternal God; for he it is that is sworn by, to whom alone these appeals ought to be made. And some think honour is done to the covenant of circumcision by the ceremony here used of putting his hand under his thigh.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 24:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Genesis 24:4

    but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”

    ›Commentary on Genesis 24:42 voices

    “My country - Mesopotamia, called here Abraham’s country, because it was the place where the family of Haran, his brother, had settled; and where himself had remained a considerable time with his father Terah.

    “Thus God swears his servants to their work, that, having sworn, they may perform it. Honour is here done to the eternal God; for he it is that is sworn by, to whom alone these appeals ought to be made. And some think honour is done to the covenant of circumcision by the ceremony here used of putting his hand under his thigh.

    Everything gathered on Genesis 24:4→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Genesis 24:53

    Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.

    ›Commentary on Genesis 24:532 voices

    “And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and . . . gold--These are the usual articles, with money, that form a woman's dowry among the pastoral tribes. Rebekah was betrothed and accompanied the servant to Canaan.

    “Jewels of silver, and jewels of gold - The word כלי keley, which we here translate jewels signifies properly vessels or instruments; and those presented by Eliezer might have been of various kinds. What he had given before, Gen 24:22, was in token of respect, what he gave now appears to have been in the way of dowry. Precious things - מגדנת migdanoth. This word is used to express exquisite fruits or delicacies, Deu 33:13-16; precious plants or flowers, Son 4:16; Son 7:13. But it may mean gifts in general, though rather of an inferior kind to those mentioned above.

    Everything gathered on Genesis 24:53→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Genesis 24:67

    And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

    ›Commentary on Genesis 24:672 voices

    “By the joy [which he received] from Rebekah, who came three years later, Isaac was comforted from the mourning of his mother with which he had been shrouded for three years.

    “Sarah’s tent - Sarah being dead, her tent became now appropriated to the use of Rebekah. And took Rebekah, etc. - After what form this was done we are not told; or whether there was any form used on the occasion, more than solemnly receiving her as the person whom God had chosen to be his wife; for it appears from Gen 24:66 that the servant told him all the especial providential circumstances which had marked his journey.

    Everything gathered on Genesis 24:67→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Genesis 28:2

    “Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

    ›Commentary on Genesis 28:22 voices

    “Go to Padan-aram - This mission, in its spirit and design, is nearly the same as that in Genesis 24 (note). There have been several ingenious conjectures concerning the retinue which Jacob had, or might have had, for his journey; and by some he has been supposed to have been well attended. Of this nothing is mentioned here, and the reverse seems to be intimated elsewhere.

    “The charge is like that in 2 Cor. vi. 14 , Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers; and all that inherit the promises of the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, must keep this charge, which follows those promises, Save yourselves from this untoward generation, Acts ii. Those that are entitled to peculiar favours must be a peculiar people.

    Everything gathered on Genesis 28:2→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Genesis 29:1

    Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

    ›Commentary on Genesis 29:11 voice

    “Then Jacob went on his journey Moses now relates the arrival of Jacob in Mesopotamia, and the manner in which he was received by his uncle; and although the narration may seem superfluous, it yet contains nothing but what is useful to be known; for he commends the extraordinary strength of Jacob's faith, when he says, that he lifted up his feet to come into an unknown land.

    Everything gathered on Genesis 29:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Genesis 29:15–30

    Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Genesis 29:20

    So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

    ›Commentary on Genesis 29:202 voices

    “They seemed to him but a few days for the love he had to her - An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing.

    “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel - In ancient times it appears to have been a custom among all nations that men should give dowries for their wives; and in many countries this custom still prevails. When Shechem asked Dinah for wife, he said, Ask me never so much - dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me.

    Everything gathered on Genesis 29:20→

    Verse page →Original language →