Bible verses for a wedding
The most common wedding readings are 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ("Charity suffereth long, and is kind"), Genesis 2:24 ("they shall be one flesh"), Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ("a threefold cord is not quickly broken"), and Ruth 1:16. For a short verse on a ring, card or program, couples often choose Song of Solomon 6:3, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine."
Most couples choose one or two Scripture readings for the ceremony, read by a friend or family member, and a shorter verse for the program, the rings or the cake. The first group below lists passages that work well as a full reading. The second lists lines short enough to engrave or print.
In the King James Version, 1 Corinthians 13 uses the word charity where many modern versions say love. Both are translations of the same Greek word. Every verse below is the KJV text.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Genesis 2:24 · KJV
Readings for the ceremony
Each of these works as a complete reading of about 30 seconds to a minute.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8The most-read wedding passage: what love does and does not do, ending with charity never faileth. Suitable for a reading.
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Genesis 2:21-24The first marriage: God brings the woman to the man, and the two become one flesh. Suitable for a reading.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Two are better than one, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken, often read as husband, wife and God. Suitable for a reading.
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: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Ruth 1:16-17Ruth's vow, "whither thou goest, I will go," spoken to her mother-in-law Naomi and widely used at weddings for its promise of loyalty. Suitable for a reading.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 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.
Song of Solomon 8:6-7Set me as a seal upon thine heart; many waters cannot quench love. Suitable for a reading.
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
Song of Solomon 2:10-12Rise up, my love, for the winter is past, a favorite for spring weddings. Suitable for a reading.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:12-14Put on kindness, meekness and forgiveness, and above all charity, the bond of perfectness. Suitable for a reading.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:7-12Love is of God, and if we love one another, God dwelleth in us. Suitable for a reading.
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Matthew 19:4-6Jesus on marriage: they are no more twain, but one flesh. Many ministers quote verse 6 at the pronouncement.
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
John 2:1-11Jesus at the marriage in Cana turns water into wine, the beginning of his miracles. A longer reading, often used in the homily.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Romans 12:9-10Let love be without dissimulation, and in honour prefer one another. Suitable for a short reading.
Short verses for vows, rings and cards
I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.
Song of Solomon 6:3I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine, one of the most often engraved wedding verses.
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19We love him, because he first loved us.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13Faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
Song of Solomon 4:7Thou art all fair, my love, a line for a card from groom to bride.
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Ephesians 4:2Forbearing one another in love, a good verse for a card with marriage advice.
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8Above all things have fervent charity, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:3Let us exalt his name together, a fitting line for a wedding program.
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24This is the day which the LORD hath made, a classic for the top of an invitation.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:12Love one another, as I have loved you.
For building a marriage
Verses often used in the wedding sermon or written in a card for the couple.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:18It is not good that the man should be alone, the reason given for the first marriage.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Ephesians 5:31Paul quotes Genesis: a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined unto his wife.
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
1 Peter 3:7Husband and wife are heirs together of the grace of life.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32Be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving, as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psalm 127:1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD, a favorite for a new home.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Proverbs 3:3Bind mercy and truth about thy neck and write them upon the table of thine heart.
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Hebrews 13:4Marriage is honourable in all.
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Proverbs 5:18Rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
A blessing for the couple
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26The priestly blessing, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee, often spoken over the couple at the close of the ceremony.
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 33:11The voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, as a sign of joy returning to the land.
For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Isaiah 62:5As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Revelation 19:7The Bible ends with a wedding: the marriage of the Lamb is come.
How well do you know Weddings in the Bible?
8 questions, every answer checked against the King James text. Play it here, then try a full book quiz.
Common questions
What Bible verses are read at weddings?
The most common are 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Genesis 2:24, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Ruth 1:16-17, Song of Solomon 8:6-7 and Colossians 3:12-14. Many ministers also quote Matthew 19:6: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
Is Ruth 1:16 about marriage?
Not directly. Ruth spoke it to her mother-in-law Naomi when Naomi urged her to go back home. Couples use it because it is one of the strongest promises of loyalty in the Bible.
Why does the KJV say charity instead of love in 1 Corinthians 13?
The King James translators used charity for the Greek word that many modern versions render love. It means the same self-giving love, which is why 1 Corinthians 13 works so well at a wedding.
What is a good short Bible verse for a wedding card?
Song of Solomon 6:3, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine," and 1 John 4:19, "We love him, because he first loved us," both fit on a card or ring. Numbers 6:24-26 works as a blessing.
Did Jesus go to a wedding?
Yes. John 2 says Jesus, his mother and his disciples were at a marriage in Cana of Galilee, where he turned water into wine. John calls it the beginning of his miracles (John 2:11).
100 Roots in Scripture
Every verse in its own language, in its own place
If you are choosing a wedding reading and want to know what words like charity meant in the original languages, 100 Roots in Scripture explains the Greek and Hebrew behind well-known verses.
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