15 Bible Verses for a Strong Marriage

Bible verses to inspire your marriage

On this post I want to share bible verses that give encouragement for building a strong marriage. They are verses that have either encouraged myself or the marriages I have worked with. I hope they can do the same for you in navigating the highs & lows of marriage life:

1. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5. A challenging verse, but much needed to first look at our own mistakes versus pointing them out in our spouse.

2. “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. A favorite verse at weddings, St. Paul references the needed mindset to endure the long haul.

3. “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13. Marriage truly represents laying down one’s life for one’s spouse.

4. “Happy the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled. A loyal wife brings joy to her husband, and he will finish his years in peace. A good wife is a generous gift, bestowed upon him who fears the Lord.” Sirach 26:1-3. A verse for admiration for the gift of a wife.

5. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32. A reminder of the need for mercy in marriage life.

6. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8. Marital research has evidenced the positive to negative ratio of interactions matters in a relationship; love truly does make up for any damage done.

7. “In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33. Another reminder of the need for respect and self-sacrifice in marriage.

8. “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. The first book of the bible references God’s plan for unity in marriage.

9. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. This verse emphasizes the need for a team within marriage, and why it is better to be together versus being alone.

10. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2. How often do we leave our spouse to carry their own burdens?

11. “Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns.” 1 Peter 1:7. This verse speaks more directly to our relationship with God, but it also applies to marriage as the commitment of a relationship is tested by various trials.

12. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18. A strong relationship can be the most powerful resource in addressing any anxiety or fears.

13. “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” Song of Solomon 8:6. Strong poetic language Solomon references for building a foundation in the marriage.

14. “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4. The wisdom that prioritizing your marriage will land you the highest honor.

15. “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21. The parable of the unmerciful servant is often the motivation we need to work on forgiveness & repair in marriage.

Often, it is helpful to take one specific bible verse about strong marriage and meditate upon it throughout your day. Then allow that verse to impact your day, transforming your thoughts and actions within your marriage. If you want further support with applying your faith to your own personal growth or within your marriage, please visit my Christian counseling page or Christian marriage counseling page to learn more.