Author Thread: Biblical concept of marriage
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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 11:46 AM

I have been trying to find the origin of what constitutes marriage in the Bible. I have searched the words marriage, marry and married but I cannot find any place that defines any kind of origin regarding marriage. I generally use the OT as my guide in establishing the original purpose of God in matters of tradition but I am not finding a precedence at all. Of course there is the Adam and Eve example of what might be considered a wedding ceremony but that aside, what else is there?



It appears to me that marriage is a matter physical union as is described in the first use of the word marry. Gen 38:8 And Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up seed to your brother.



But there seem to be two kinds of marriage: One in which a brother marries his sister-in-law in the case of his brothers death and another in the case of a man and woman becoming husband and wife.



Case in point: Num 36:6 This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry.





See Strongs: for Gen 8:38 marry is H2992

יבם

yâbam

yaw-bam'

A primitive root of doubtful meaning; used only as a denominative from H2993; to marry a (deceased) brother�s widow: - perform the duty of a husband�s brother, marry.



In Numbers 36:6 it is H1961

היה

hâyâh

haw-yaw'

A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): - beacon, X altogether, be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), continue, do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, X use.

AND

H802

נשׁים אשּׁה

'ishshâh nâshîym

ish-shaw', naw-sheem'

The first form is the feminine of H376 or H582; the second form is an irregular plural; a woman (used in the same wide sense as H582).: - [adulter]ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.



I suppose this would literally mean "to cause a woman to become a wife"?



In either case there is no mention of what constitutes a marriage.



So is the Christian view of the of what constitutes a marriage derived from a traditional view or from actual scripture?



Thunder

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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 12:02 PM

We may not see the word marriage in Scripture, nor do we see grand parents used but we do understand that the childrens parent's, is a grand parent . I believe it to be clear that marriage is first a spiritual connection then a physical union.



It is the will of the father to join man and women together.

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DontHitThatMark

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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 12:34 PM

Well...the rings and the white dresses and the preacher probably had nothing to do with marriage back then...but other than that observation...I really have no idea.



:peace::peace:

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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 01:28 PM

Phillip John,



You:I believe it to be clear that marriage is first a spiritual connection then a physical union.





Me: Really what makes you think that?





Thunder

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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 05:03 PM

This is not only my thought i'm sure other have searched as well. If your looking for the actual word your gonna have to check the hebrew bible to see if the same words are used in Genesis as they are in other places that the english language KJV use the word Marriage.. I take it you already know of the spiritual definition and the term Helpmeet in Genesis chapter 2.18 thru 25

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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 05:19 PM

OK, this isn't about the word study on marriage I have done. I have thoroughly exhausted a word study. The point is that I am looking for the origin of what marriage is. Yes man needs a helpmeet but is that the origin of the concept of marriage?



I guess the question is actually what makes a marriage a marriage and where is the Scriptural concept expressed? The answer is not a wedding or the legal decree of marriage so what is it?



Thunder

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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 05:55 PM

Marriage is a covenant / Malachi 2:14

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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 06:17 PM

Ok River, how is that covenant made? What constitutes the covenant?



Thunder

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Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 06:20 PM

Is not it the father that joins Man and Women together, I believe everything was in the spirit realm before it became manifest in this natural realm, The bible tells us the Word of God is Spirit.



Our Father operates just like he asks us to operate by faith and bible faith gives substance to whatever is hoped for according to the word of God.



Was it not the word that created all things.

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Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 06:42 PM

Are you looking for a specific answer????

A marriage covenant is made between and man, woman and God, there are vows that each makes to one another.

more importantly the vows are unto the Lord. The two become one after consummation.

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Biblical concept of marriage
Posted : 8 Mar, 2010 07:27 PM

I'm looking for an answer.



I understand that vows are made and that the two become one at consummation but there are no examples of this that I can find in Scripture. In the OT it seems that a man could take a woman and marry her simply by the act of consummation. Does this mean that marriage can be considered legit without ceremony? If so then how does God view marriage without vows?



If a woman and I decide we want to be married and we go to a place we think is special and we make vows to each other with no witnesses and then we consummate our covenant are we married? There is no license, witness or officiant. Will God consider us married whether the government does or not?



And, no, I am not contemplating doing this. I am simply asking for the sake of discussion because it has come up in conversations I have had with friends.



Thunder

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