What Does the Bible Say About Marital Love?

1 Peter 3:7-12 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. ...

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 12 helpful votes

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 11 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Ephesians 5:22 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Proverbs 3:1-35 ESV / 8 helpful votes

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ...

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Colossians 3:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

Proverbs 15:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

Genesis 2:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

John 13:34 ESV / 5 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Song of Solomon 8:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Ephesians 5:1-3 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

27 Bible Verses about Marital Love

1 Peter 3:7-12 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 12 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:22 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Proverbs 3:1-35 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Colossians 3:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Genesis 2:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 13:34 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Song of Solomon 8:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:1-3 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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27 Bible Verses about Marital Love

1 Peter 3:7-12 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:22 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 3:1-35 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 13:34 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Song of Solomon 8:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:1-3 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

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Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

1 Peter 3:7-12 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 12 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:22 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Proverbs 3:1-35 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Colossians 3:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Genesis 2:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 13:34 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Song of Solomon 8:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:1-3 ESV / 1 helpful vote