📖 Biblical Definition
Marriage understood as covenant — not mere contract or romantic-emotional partnership, but a solemn binding oath sworn before God between one man and one woman, lifelong, exclusive, and imaging Christ's relationship to His Church. Malachi 2:14 names the LORD as the witness of the covenant: the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. Ephesians 5:31-32 reveals the marriage covenant's deeper meaning: 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. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Christ Himself anchored marriage in the creation order: Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female... What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matt 19:4-6). Covenant marriage is theological reality before it is social institution.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Marriage as lifelong covenant before God.
expand to see more
The biblical understanding of marriage as covenant — sworn before God between one man and one woman, lifelong, exclusive, ordered toward children, family discipleship, and image of Christ and the church; distinguished from contractual or sentimental views.
📖 Key Scripture
Malachi 2:14 — "Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant."
Ephesians 5:31-32 — "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. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
Matthew 19:6 — "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Replaced by contractual or sentimental marriage; Scripture's covenant view holds the lifelong, image-bearing weight.
expand to see more
Covenant marriage is the ground of biblical family. Not contract (which expires), not sentiment (which fades), but covenant (which binds). Christ took it as image of His own self-giving to the church. Recover the weight; the gospel itself depends on getting marriage's image right.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew berit — covenant.
expand to see more
['Hebrew', 'H1285', 'berit', 'covenant']
['Greek', 'G1242', 'diathēkē', 'covenant']
Usage
"Recover marriage as covenant."
"Christ-and-church image hangs on it."