Interpreting Warnings in the "One Flesh" Marriage Covenant
The concept of "one flesh" in marriage originates in 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." This foundational passage is echoed in the New Testament by Jesus (Matthew 19:5) and Paul (Ephesians 5:31), emphasizing the profound unity intended in marriage [6]. The phrase "one flesh" signifies a deep, intimate connection, encompassing physical, emotional, and spiritual unity [12].
The biblical understanding of marriage is often described as a covenant relationship [1]. A covenant, in the Old Testament, is represented by the Hebrew word berith, meaning "to cut," referring to the ancient practice of cutting animals in two and parties passing between them to ratify an agreement (Genesis 15; Jeremiah 34:18-19) [2, 4, 5]. This ritual symbolized the solemnity and binding nature of the covenant, often with God as a witness [5]. In the New Testament, the corresponding Greek word is diatheke, frequently translated as "testament" [2, 4]. Covenants are agreements between two parties, designed for purposes such as establishing friendship, mutual protection, or peace [5]. God himself entered into covenants with humanity, such as with Noah and Abraham, where circumcision served as a token of the covenant (Genesis 17:10-11, 13) [3, 7, 10]. Breaking such a covenant carried severe consequences, as seen in Genesis 17:14, where an uncircumcised male would be "cut off from his people" [9].
The "one flesh" union in marriage is thus understood within this covenantal framework, implying a solemn, binding agreement with significant implications for faithfulness and commitment [6]. The apostle Paul extends the concept of "one flesh" beyond marriage to warn against sexual immorality, stating that "he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, 'The two,' he says, 'will become one flesh'" (1 Corinthians 6:16) [8]. John Gill interprets this passage as applying the original concept of lawful marriage's physical union to the unlawful act with a harlot, highlighting the profound physical and spiritual implications of sexual intimacy [11]. The "one flesh" union, therefore, carries warnings against anything that would violate its sacred and exclusive nature, emphasizing fidelity and the sanctity of the marital bond [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”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Covenant — A contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19). The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is diatheke, which is, however, rendered "testament" generally in the Authorized Version. It ought to be rendered, just as the word berith o”
- Genesis “You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you. -- Genesis 17:11”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Covenant — The Heb. berith means primarily "a cutting," with reference to the custom of cutting or dividing animals in two and passing between the parts in ratifying a covenant. (Genesis 15; Jeremiah 34:18,19) In the New Testament the corresponding word is diathece (diatheke), which is frequently translated testament in the Authorized Version. In its biblical meaning two parties the word is used-- + Of a covenant between God and man; e.g. God covenanted with Noah, after the flood, that a like judgment should not be repeated. It is not precisely like a covenant between”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covenants — Agreements between two parties -- Ge 26:28; Da 11:6. Designed for Establishing friendship. -- 1Sa 18:3. Procuring assistance in war. -- 1Ki 15:18,19. Mutual protection. -- Ge 26:28,29; 31:50-52. Establishing peace. -- Jos 9:15,16. Promoting commerce. -- 1Ki 5:6-11. Selling land. -- Ge 23:14-16. Conditions of Clearly specified. -- 1Sa 11:1,2. Conformed by oath. -- Ge 21:23,31; 26:31. Witnessed. -- Ge 23:17,18; Ru 4:9-11. Written and sealed. -- Ne 9:38; 10:1. God often called to witness -- Ge 31:50,53. When confirmed, unalterable -- Ga 3:15. Made by passing”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Husbands — Should have but one wife -- Ge 2:24; Mr 10:6-8; 1Co 7:2-4. Have authority over their wives -- Ge 3:16; 1Co 11:3; Eph 5:23. Duty of, to wives To respect them. -- 1Pe 3:7. To love them. -- Eph 5:25-33; Col 3:19. To regard them as themselves. -- Ge 2:23; Mt 19:5. To be faithful to them. -- Pr 5:19; Mal 2:14,15. To dwell with them for life. -- Ge 2:24; Mt 19:3-9. To comfort them. -- 1Sa 1:8. To consult with them. -- Ge 31:4-7. Not to leave them, though unbelieving. -- 1Co 7:11,12,14,16. Duties of, not to interfere with their duties to Christ -- Lu 14:26; Mt 19”
- Genesis “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. -- Genesis 17:10”
- 1 Corinthians “Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.” -- 1 Corinthians 6:16”
- Genesis “The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.” -- Genesis 17:14”
- Genesis “He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. -- Genesis 17:13”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 6:16: What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot,.... Not in marriage, but in carnal copulation, and unclean embraces, is one body with her for two ("saith he", Adam, or Moses, or God, or the Scripture, or as R. Sol. Jarchi says, the Holy Spirit, Gen 2:24) shall be one flesh; what is originally said of copulation in lawful marriage, in which man and wife, legally coupled together, become one flesh, is applied to the unlawful copulation of a man with an harlot, by which act they also become one body, one flesh; and which is made use of by the apostle, ”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 2:24: 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. 2. These two shall be for the production of one flesh; from their”