The first marriage in Scripture occurs in Genesis 2, providing God’s original design for the union between man and woman. After forming Adam from the dust, God declared in Genesis 2:18:
“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’”
This statement reveals that marriage was part of God’s plan for companionship and partnership. God created Eve from Adam’s rib, emphasizing equality and shared nature. Genesis 2:22–24 records the moment of union:
“Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to 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 a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
From this passage, we learn several foundational truths about marriage. It is a divine institution, created by God, not by human culture. It is designed as a covenant between one man and one woman. Marriage involves leaving one’s parents, forming a new primary relationship, and uniting in a lifelong bond of oneness. This oneness includes physical intimacy, emotional closeness, and spiritual unity.
Marriage also reflects God’s purpose for companionship, mutual support, and the continuation of life through procreation (Genesis 1:28). In the New Testament, this design is affirmed when Jesus quotes Genesis 2:24 in Matthew 19:4–6, underscoring the permanence and sanctity of marriage.
Genesis teaches that marriage is not merely a social contract but a sacred covenant established by God. It reveals His intention for harmony, love, and faithfulness between husband and wife, setting the pattern for all future marriages.
