"a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit"         (James 2:15-16 NKJV)

MARRIAGE

Divinely instituted  - Genesis 2:24

A covenant relationship  - Malachi 2:4

DESIGNED FOR

The happiness of man  - Genesis 2:18

Increasing the human population - Genesis 1:28; 9:1

Raising up godly seed - Malachi 2:15

Preventing fornication  - 1 Corinthians 7:2

The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -Genesis 3:15; 4:1

Lawful in all  - 1 Corinthians 7:2,28; 1 Timothy 5:14

Honourable for all - Hebrews 13:4

Should be only in the Lord - 1 Corinthians 7:39

EXPRESSED BY

Joining together - Matthew 19:6

Making affinity - 1 Kings 3:1

Taking to wife - Exodus 2:1

Giving daughters to sons, and sons to daughters - Deuteronomy 7:3; Ezra 9:12

Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties - Matthew 19:6; Romans 7:2,3; 1 Corinthians 7:39

Early introduction of polygamy - Genesis 4:19

Contracted in patriarchal age with near relations - Genesis 20:12; 24:24; 28:2

Often contracted by parents for children - Genesis 24:49-51; 34:6,8

Should be with consent of parents - Genesis 28:8; Judges 14:2,3

Consent of the parties necessary to - Genesis 24:57,58; 1 Samuel 18:20; 25:41

Parents might refuse to give their children in - Exodus 22:17; Deuteronomy 7:3

THE JEWS

Forbidden to contract, with their near relations - Leviticus 18:6

Forbidden to contract with idolaters - Deuteronomy 7:3,4; Joshua 23:12; Ezra 9:11,12

Often contracted with foreigners - 1 Kings 11:1; Nehemiah 13:23

Sometimes guilty of polygamy - 1 Kings 11:1,3

Careful in contracting for their children - Genesis 24:2,3; 28:1,2

Betrothed themselves some time before - Deuteronomy 20:7; Judges 14:5,7,8; Matthew 1:18

Contracted when young - Proverbs 2:17; Joel 1:8

Often contracted, in their own tribe - Exodus 2:1; Numbers 36:6-13; Luke 1:5,27

Obliged to contract with a brother’s wife who died without seed - Deuteronomy 25:5; Matthew 22:24

Considered being debarred from, a reproach- Isaiah 4:1

Considered being debarred from, a cause of grief - Judges 11:38

Often punished by being debarred from - Jeremiah 7:34; 16:9; 25:10

Were allowed divorce from, because of hardness of their hearts - Deuteronomy 24:1; Matthew 19:7,8

Exempted from going to war immediately after - Deuteronomy 20:7

Priest not to contract, with divorced or improper persons - Leviticus 21:7

The high priest not to contract, with a widow or a divorced or profane person - Leviticus 21:14

Contracted at the gate and before witnesses - Ruth 4:1,10,11

Modes of demanding women in - Genesis 24:3,4; 34:6,8; 1 Samuel 25:39,40

Elder daughters usually given in, before the younger - Genesis 29:26

A dowry given to the woman’s parents before - Genesis 29:18; 34:12; 1 Samuel 18:27,28; Hosea 3:2

CELEBRATED

With great rejoicing - Jeremiah 33:11; John 3:29

With feasting - Genesis 29:22; Judges 14:10; Matthew 22:2,3; John 2:1-10

For seven days  - Judges 14:12

A benediction pronounced after  - Genesis 24:60; Ruth 4:11,12

THE BRIDE

Received presents before - Genesis 24:53

Given a handmaid at - Genesis 24:59; 29:24,29

Adorned with jewels for - Isaiah 49:18; 61:10

Gorgeously apparelled - Psalms 45:13,14

Attended by bridesmaids - Psalms 45:9

Stood on the right of bridegroom - Psalms 45:9

Called to forget her father’s house - Psalms 45:10

THE BRIDEGROOM

Adorned with ornaments - Isaiah 61:10

Attended by many friends - Judges 14:11; John 3:29

Presented with gifts - Psalms 45:12

Crowned with garlands - Solomon 3:11

Rejoiced over the bride - Isaiah 62:5

Returned with the bride to his house at night - Matthew 25:1-6

Garments provided for guests at - Matthew 22:12

Infidelity of those contracted in, punished as if married - Deuteronomy 22:23,24; Matthew 1:19

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

God’s union with the Jewish nation - Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 3:14; Hosea 2:19,20

Christ’s union with his church - Ephesians 5:23,24,32