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Bible verses for weddings
Beloved passages for wedding ceremonies, vows, invitations, and toasts — verses on love, faithfulness, and the covenant of marriage.
What are the best Bible verses for a wedding?
Wedding planners, brides, grooms, and officiants have turned to Scripture for centuries to anchor the ceremony in something deeper than sentiment. The Bible speaks about love as patient endurance, marriage as covenant, and faithfulness as the thread that holds two lives together.
These verses are chosen because they are the ones most frequently read at weddings and most often printed on invitations and programs. Each one carries weight beyond decoration — they describe the kind of love that sustains a marriage long after the ceremony ends.
Key passages
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,"
The defining wedding passage — love is patient, love is kind. Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may know whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not rest till we have it.
"Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may know whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not rest till we have it.
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
The foundational statement on marriage: a man shall leave and cleave. Power over the creatures was given to man, and as a proof of this he named them all. It also shows his insight into the works of God.
"And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
A threefold cord is not quickly broken — a favorite for wedding unity symbols. Surely he has more satisfaction in life, who labours hard to maintain those he loves, than the miser has in his toil. In all things union tends to success and safety, but above all, the union of Christians.
"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned."
Many waters cannot quench love — a declaration of love’s endurance. The Jewish church came up from the wilderness, supported by Divine power and favour. The Christian church was raised from a low, desolate condition, by the grace of Christ relied on.
"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
Above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all.
"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:"
Whither thou goest, I will go — one of the most quoted wedding passages. See Ruth's resolution, and her good affection to Naomi. Orpah was loth to part from her; yet she did not love her well enough to leave Moab for her sake.
Main takeaways
- The Bible treats marriage as a covenant of faithfulness, not merely a feeling.
- Love in Scripture is described by what it does and endures, not only by what it feels.
- Wedding verses work best when they point the couple toward something larger than themselves.
Related books
Related people
A friend, a Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, whose father, Elimelech, had settled in the land of Moab.
Further guides
What does the Bible say about marriage?
A full guide to the biblical vision of marriage from Genesis to Ephesians, covering its origins, purposes, duties, and spiritual significance.