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 daughters to sons, and sons to daughters De 7:3; Ezr 9:12 - Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties Mt 19:6; Ro 7:2,3; 1Co 7:39 - Early introduction of polygamy Ge 4:19 - Contracted in patriarchal age with near relations Ge 20:12; 24:24; 28:2 - Often contracted by parents for children Ge 24:49-51; 34:6,8 - Should be with consent of parents Ge 28:8; Jud 14:2,3 - Consent of the parties necessary to Ge 24:57,58; 1Sa 18:20; 25:41 - Parents might refuse to give their children in Ex 22:17; De 7:3 - THE JEWS . Forbidden to contract, with their near relations Le 18:6 . Forbidden to contract with idolaters De 7:3,4; Jos 23:12; Ezr 9:11,12 . Often contracted with foreigners 1Ki 11:1; Ne 13:23 . Sometimes guilty of polygamy 1Ki 11:1,3 . Careful in contracting for their children Ge 24:2,3; 28:1,2 . Betrothed themselves some time before De 20:7; Jud 14:5,7,8; Mt 1:18 . Contracted when young Pr 2:17; Joe 1:8 . Often contracted, in their own tribe Ex 2:1; Nu 36:6-13; Lu 1:5,27 . Obliged to contract with a brother's wife who died without seed De 25:5; Mt 22:24 . Considered being debarred from, a reproach Isa 4:1 . Considered being debarred from, a cause of grief Jud 11:38 . Often punished by being debarred from Jer 7:34; 16:9; 25:10 . Were allowed divorce from, because of hardness of their hearts De 24:1; Mt 19:7,8 . Exempted from going to war immediately after De 20:7 - Priest not to contract, with divorced or improper persons Le 21:7 - The high priest not to contract, with a widow or a divorced or profane person Le 21:14 - Contracted at the gate and before witnesses Ru 4:1,10,11 - Modes of demanding women in Ge 24:3,4; 34:6,8; 1Sa 25:39,40 - Elder daughters usually given in, before the younger Ge 29:26 - A dowry given to the woman's parents before Ge 29:18; 34:12; 1Sa 18:27,28; Ho 3:2 - CELEBRATED . With great rejoicing Jer 33:11; Joh 3:29 . With feasting Ge 29:22; Jud 14:10; Mt 22:2,3; Joh 2:1-10 . For seven days Jud 14:12 - A benediction pronounced after Ge 24:60; Ru 4:11,12 - THE BRIDE . Received presents before Ge 24:53 . Given a handmaid at Ge 24:59; 29:24,29 . Adorned with jewels for Isa 49:18; 61:10 . Gorgeously apparelled Ps 45:13,14 . Attended by bridesmaids Ps 45:9 . Stood on the right of bridegroom Ps 45:9 . Called to forget her father's house Ps 45:10 - THE BRIDEGROOM . Adorned with ornaments Isa 61:10 . Attended by many friends Jud 14:11; Joh 3:29 . Presented with gifts Ps 45:12 . Crowned with garlands So 3:11 . Rejoiced over the bride Isa 62:5 . Returned with the bride to his house at night Mt 25:1-6 - Garments provided for guests at Mt 22:12 - Infidelity of those contracted in, punished as if married De 22:23,24; Mt 1:19 - ILLUSTRATIVE OF . God's union with the Jewish nation Isa 54:5; Jer 3:14; Ho 2:19,20 . Christ's union with his church Eph 5:23,24,32

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The union for life of one man and one woman, is an ordinance of the Creator for the perpetuity and happiness of the human race; instituted in Paradise, Ge 1:27-28 2:18-24, and the foundation of no small part of all that is valuable to human society. By promoting parental love and the sense of responsibility, marriage most effectually promotes the health and happiness of children, and their careful education to virtue, industry, and honor, to right habits and ends, and to all that is included in the idea of home. God made originally but one man and one woman. The first polygamists were Lamech and those degenerate "sons of God," or worshippers of Jehovah, who "took them wives of all that they chose," Ge 4:17 6:2. On the other hand, Noah and his three sons had each but one wife; and the same appears to be true of all his direct ancestors’ back to Adam. So also was it with Job, Nahor, Lot, and at first with Abraham. See CONCUBINE. In after-times a plurality of wives became more common among the Hebrews, and the Scriptures afford numerous illustrations of its evil results, Ge 16:16 Jud 8:30 2Sa 3:3-5 1Ki 11:18 2Ch 11:18-21 13:21. In the time of Christ there is no mention of polygamy as prevalent among the Jews. The Israelites were forbidden to marry within certain specified degrees, Le 18:1-30,1-27 De 27:1-26. Marriage with Canaanites and idolaters was strictly forbidden, Ex 34:16; and afterwards with any of the heathen nations around them, especially such as were uncircumcised, Ne 13:1-31. By the Levirate law, as it is termed, if a Jew died without children, his nearest brother or kinsman was bound to marry the widow, that her firstborn son after this marriage might be reckoned the son and heir of the first husband, Ge 38:1-30 De 25:5-10 Mt 22:23-26. The Savior set his seal to marriage as a divine and permanent institution, aside from all the civil laws which guard and regulate, or seek to alter or annul it; forbidding divorce except for one cause, Mt 5:32 19:3-6,9; and denouncing all breaches of marriage vows, even in thought, Mt 5:28. Compare Heb 13:4 Re 21:8. Jewish parents were wont to arrange with other parents as to the marriage of their children, sometimes according to the previous choice of the son, and not without some regard to the consent of the daughter, Ge 21:21 24:1-67 34:4-6 Jud 14:2-3. The parties were often betrothed to each other long before the marriage took place. See BETROTHING. A dowry was given by the suitor to the parents and brethren of the bride, Ex 22:13 De 22:29 2Sa 13:11. The nuptials were often celebrated with great pomp and ceremony, and with protracted feasting and rejoicing. It was customary for the bridegroom to appoint a Paranymphus, or groomsman, called by our Savior "the friend of the bridegroom," John 3.29. A number of other young men also kept him company during the days of the wedding, to do him honor; as also young women kept company with the bride all this time. The companions of the bridegrooms are expressly mentioned in the history of Samson, Jud 14:11,20 So 5:1 8:13 Mt 9:14; also the companions of the bride, Ps 45:9,14 So 1:5 2:7 3:5 8:4. The office of the groomsman was to direct in the ceremonies of he wedding. The friends and companions of the bride sang the epithalamium, or wedding song, at the door of the bride the evening before the wedding. The festivities of the wedding were conducted with great decorum, the young people of each sex being in distinct apartments and at different tables. The young men at Samson’s wedding diverted themselves in proposing riddles, and the bridegroom appointed the prize to those should could explain them, Jud 14:14. The Jews affirm, that before Jerusalem was laid in ruins, the bridegroom and bride wore crowns at their marriage. Compare Isa 61:10 So 3:11, "Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother, crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart." The modern Jews, in some places, throw handfuls of wheat on the newly married couple, particularly on the bride, saying "Increase and multiply." In other places they mingle pieces of money with the wheat, which are gathered up by the poor. The actual ceremony of marriage was very simple, consisting of little more than the reading of the marriage contract, Pr 2:17 Mal 2:14, and the nuptial blessing invoked by the friends, Ge 24:60 Ru 4:11,12. The wedding festivities commonly lasted seven days for a maid, and three days for a widow. So Laban says to Jacob, respecting Leah, "Fulfill her week," Ge 29:27. The ceremonies of Samson’s wedding continued seven whole days, Jud 14:17,18. These seven days of rejoicing were commonly spent in the house of the woman’s father, after which they conducted the bride to her husband’s home. The procession accompanying the bride from the house of her father to that of the bridegroom, was generally one of more or less pomp, according to the circumstances of the married couple; and for this they often chose the night, as is tell the custom in Syria. Hence the parable of the ten virgins that went at midnight to meet the bride and bridegroom, Mt 25:1-46. "At a Hindoo marriage, the procession of which I saw some years ago," says Mr. Ward, "the bridegroom came from a distance, and the bride lived at Serampre, to which place the bridegroom was to come by water. After waiting two or three hours, at length, near midnight, it was announced, as if in the very words of Scripture, ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.’ All the persons employed now lighted their lamps, and ran with them in their hands to fill up their stations in the procession; some of them had lost their lights, and were unprepared; but it was then too late to seek them, and the cavalcade moved forward to the house of the bride, at which place the company entered a large and splendidly illuminated area, before the house, covered with an awning, where a great multitude of friends, dressed in their best apparel, were seated upon mats. The bridegroom was carried in the arms of a friend, and placed in a superb seat in the midst of the company, where he sat a short time, and them went into the house, the door of which was immediately shut, and guarded by sepoys. Others and I expostulated with the doorkeepers, but in vain. Never was I so struck with our Lord’s beautiful parable as at this moment; ‘and the door was shut.’" Christianity invests the family institution with peculiar sacredness; makes true love its basis, and mutual preference of each others’ happiness its rule; and even likens it to the ineffable union between Christ and his church, Eph 5:22-33. Nowhere in the world is woman so honored, happy, and useful as in a Christian land and a Christian home. Believers are directed to marry "in the Lord," 1Co 7:39. No doubt the restrictions laid upon the ancient people of God contain a lesson for all periods, and the recorded ill results of forbidden marriages among the Jews, if heeded, would prevent the serious evils which often result form union between a Christian and a worldling. As to the mutual duties of husband and wife, see Eph 5:22-23 1Ti 2:11,12 1Pe 3:1-7. The Romish church puts dishonor on what the Holy Spirit describes as "honorable in all." It not only extols celibacy and virginity in the laity, but also strictly refuses marriage to all its priests, bishops, etc., and in thus "forbidding to marry," fixes upon itself the name of anti-Christ, 1Ti 4:3. See BETROTHING, CONCUBINE, DIVORCE, GARMENTS, etc.

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Marriage. Marriage
Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosaic law and made the basis of legislation, and continued to be practised all down through the period of Jewish histroy to the Captivity, after which there is no instance of it on record.

It seems to have been the practice from the beginning for fathers to select wives for their sons (Gen. 24:3; 38:6). Sometimes also proposals were initiated by the father of the maiden (Ex. 2:21). The brothers of the maiden were also sometimes consulted (Gen. 24:51; 34:11), but her own consent was not required. The young man was bound to give a price to the father of the maiden (31:15; 34:12; Ex. 22:16, 17; 1 Sam. 18:23, 25; Ruth 4:10; Hos. 3:2) On these patriarchal customs the Mosaic law made no change.

In the pre-Mosaic times, when the proposals were accepted and the marriage price given, the bridegroom could come at once and take away his bride to his own house (Gen. 24:63-67). But in general the marriage was celebrated by a feast in the house of the bride’s parents, to which all friends were invited (29:22, 27); and on the day of the marriage the bride, concealed under a thick veil, was conducted to her future husband’s home.

Our Lord corrected many false notions then existing on the subject of marriage (Matt. 22:23-30), and placed it as a divine institution on the highest grounds. The apostles state clearly and enforce the nuptial duties of husband and wife (Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18, 19; 1 Pet. 3:1-7). Marriage is said to be “honourable” (Heb. 13:4), and the prohibition of it is noted as one of the marks of degenerate times (1 Tim. 4:3).

The marriage relation is used to represent the union between God and his people (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 3:1-14; Hos. 2:9, 20). In the New Testament the same figure is employed in representing the love of Christ to his saints (Eph. 5:25-27). The Church of the redeemed is the “Bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Rev. 19:7-9).

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MARRIAGE. → Consanguinous, Abraham and Sarah Ge 11:29; 12:13; 20:3,9-16 → Isaac and Rebekah Ge 24:3,4,67; 28:2 → Jacob and his wives Ge 29:15-30 → See below, in the elaborated text → Levirate (the brother required to marry a brother's widow) Ge 38:8,11; De 25:5-10; Ru 4:5; Mt 22:24; Mr 12:19-23; Lu 20:28 → Parents contract for their children
* Hagar selects a wife for Ishmael Ge 21:21
* Abraham for Isaac Ge 24
* Laban arranges for his daughters' marriage Ge 29
* Samson asks his parents to procure him a wife Jud 14:2

→ Parents' consent requires in the Mosaic law Ex 22:17 → Presents given to parents to secure their favor Ge 24:53; 34:12; De 22:29; 1Sa 18:25; Ho 3:2 → Nuptial feasts Ge 29:22; Jud 14:12; Es 2:18; Mt 22:11,12 → Jesus present at Joh 2:1-5 → Ceremony attested by witnesses Ru 4:1-11; Isa 8:1-3 → The groom exempt one year from military duty De 24:5 → Bridal ornaments Isa 49:18; Jer 2:32 → Bridal presents Ge 24:53; Ps 45:12 → A herald preceded the bridegroom Mt 25:6 → Wedding robes adorned with jewels Isa 61:10 → Wives obtained
* By purchase Ge 29:20; Ru 4:10; Ho 3:2; 12:12
* By kidnapping Jud 21:21-23

→ Given by Kings 1Sa 17:25; 18:17,21 → Daughters given in, as rewards of valor Jud 1:12; 1Sa 17:25; 18:27 → Wives taken by edict Es 2:2-4,8-14 → David gave one hundred Philistine foreskins for a wife 2Sa 3:14 → Wives among the Israelites must be Israelites Ex 34:16; De 7:3,4; 1Ch 23:22; Ezr 9:1,2,12; Ne 10:30; 13:26,27; Mal 2:11; 1Co 7:39; 2Co 6:14 → Betrothal a quasi-marriage Mt 1:18; Lu 1:27 → Betrothal made with the spirit Eze 16:8 → Celibacy deplored Jud 11:38; Isa 4:1; Jer 16:9 → Advised 1Co 7:7,8,24-40 → Obligations under, inferior to duty to God De 13:6-10; Mt 19:29; Lu 14:26 → Not binding after death Mt 22:29,30; Mr 12:24,25 → See BRIDE → See BRIDEGROOM → UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO Ge 2:23,24; Ex 22:16,17; Le 18:6-18; 20:14,17,19-21; 21:1,7,13-15; Nu 36:8; De 21:10-14; 24:1-5; Pr 18:22; 21:9,19; Jer 29:6; Ho 2:19,20; Mal 2:13-16; Mt 5:31,32; Mr 6:17,18; 10:2-12; Mt 19:2-9; Lu 16:18; Ro 7:1-3; 1Co 6:16; 7:1-40; 9:5; 11:11,12; 1Ti 3:2,12; 4:1,3; 5:14; Heb 13:4 → FIGURATIVE Isa 54:5; 62:4,5; Jer 3:14; 31:32; Ho 1:2; 2:19,20; Eph 5:30-32; Re 19:7-9
* Parables from Mt 22:2; 25:1-10
* See DIVORCE
* See HUSBAND
* See WIFE

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(1) Commended. SEE Home, HOME (2) Obligations of. SEE Home, HOME (3) Of the Israelites with the Heathen Forbidden Ge 24:3; 28:1; De 7:3; Jos 23:12; Ezr 9:12; Ne 13:25 --SEE Separation (2), SEPARATION (4) Figurative of God's Union with the Church Isa 54:5; 62:5; Jer 3:14; Ho 2:19; Mt 22:2; 25:10; Re 19:7 --SEE Bride, CHURCH, THE Christ, Bridegroom, CHURCH, THE (5) Of the Kinsman's Widow De 25:5; Ru 3:9; 4:10; Mt 22:24

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marriage. Marriage, n. the act of joining man and woman

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Mar″riage (?), n. [[OE. mariage, F. mariage. See Marry, v. t.]] 1. 1. The act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of a man and a woman for life, as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony.
Marriage is honorable in all. Heb. xiii. 4. 2. 2. The marriage vow or contract. Chaucer.
3. 3. A feast made on the occasion of a marriage.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son. Matt. xxii. 2. 4. 4. Any intimate or close union.
Marriage brokage. (a) The business of bringing about marriages. (b) The payment made or demanded for the procurement of a marriage. — Marriage favors, knots of white ribbons, or bunches of white flowers, worn at weddings. — Marriage settlement (Law), a settlement of property in view, and in consideration, of marriage. Syn. — Matrimony; wedlock; wedding; nuptials. — Marriage, Matrimony, Wedlock. Marriage is properly the act which unites the two parties, and matrimony the state into which they enter. Marriage is, however, often used for the state as well as the act. Wedlock is the old Anglo-Saxon term for matrimony.