Biblical Verses Used to Support Gay Marriage
The Bible does not contain verses that explicitly support gay marriage. Instead, biblical texts consistently present marriage as a union between a man and a woman, often emphasizing procreation and covenantal fidelity within this heterosexual framework [1, 4].
The institution of marriage is depicted as originating at creation, with Genesis 2:24 stating, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" [4]. This passage is foundational for understanding the biblical view of marriage, highlighting the unity and indissolubility of the bond between a man and a woman [4]. Jesus himself references this Genesis passage when discussing marriage, reinforcing its original design (Matthew 19:4-6).
Throughout the Old Testament, marriage is consistently portrayed as a male-female relationship. For example, Isaiah 62:5 speaks of a "young man marries a virgin" and a "bridegroom rejoices over the bride" [2]. The purpose of marriage is often linked to increasing the human population and raising "godly seed" [1]. The covenantal aspect of marriage is also stressed, as seen in Malachi 2:14, which refers to "the wife of your covenant" [1]. The prophet Hosea uses the metaphor of marriage to describe God's covenant relationship with Israel, with Israel's unfaithfulness being likened to adultery [8, 9]. Hosea 3:1, for instance, depicts Yahweh instructing the prophet to "love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel" [5]. This symbolic use further underscores the male-female paradigm of marriage in biblical thought [8, 9].
The New Testament maintains this understanding of marriage. Hebrews 13:4 states, "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers" [3]. Commentators like Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret this as an exhortation for marriage to be treated honorably "in the case of all men," emphasizing the importance of each man having his own wife to avoid fornication [7]. Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, notes that the New Testament also holds a high estimate of marriage, citing 1 Corinthians 7:2, where Paul says, "Let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" [10]. Paul also encourages younger widows to "marry, bear children, manage their households" in 1 Timothy 5:14 [1].
While the Bible does not directly address the concept of gay marriage, it contains prohibitions against homosexual acts. For instance, Leviticus 18:22 states, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." Romans 1:26-27 describes homosexual acts as "unnatural" and "degrading passions." These passages, among others, are often cited in discussions about biblical perspectives on homosexuality.
The consistent biblical portrayal of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, from Genesis through Revelation, forms the basis for traditional Christian and Jewish understandings of marriage [1, 4]. The imagery of marriage in Revelation 19:7, for example, speaks of "the marriage of the Lamb" and "his wife," continuing the male-female metaphor for divine-human covenantal relationship [6].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
- Isaiah “For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons shall marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you. -- Isaiah 62:5”
- Hebrews “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. -- Hebrews 13:4”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
- Hosea “Yahweh said to me, “Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins.” -- Hosea 3:1”
- Revelation “Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.” -- Revelation 19:7”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13:4: is, &c.--Translate, "Let marriage be treated as honorable": as Heb 13:5 also is an exhortation. in all--"in the case of all men": "among all." "To avoid fornication let EVERY MAN have his own wife" (Co1 7:2). Judaism and Gnosticism combined were soon about to throw discredit on marriage. The venerable Paphnutius, in the Council of Nice, quoted this verse for the justification of the married state. If one does not himself marry, he should not prevent others from doing so. Others, especially Romanists, translate, "in all things," as in Heb 13:18. But ”
- Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: woman, according to the Old Testament Scriptures, which are the word of God, was not to be a nun, but to be the mistress of a family, and a mother of children. ( Gen. xxx. 1 ; Ps. cxiii. 9; cxxvii. 3; cxxviii. 3, 4 ; Prov. xviii. 22; xxxi. 10, 28 .) 3. The same high estimate of marriage, characterizes the teachings of the New Testament. Marriage is declared to be “honourable in all.” ( Heb. xiii. 4 .) Paul says, ” Let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” ( 1 Cor. vii. 2 .) In 1 Timothy v. 14 , he says: “”