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Marriage.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 3 min. read • grade level: 12

Divinely instituted. Gen. 2:24²⁴Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24).

A covenant relationship. Mal, 2:4.

DESIGNED FOR

The happiness of man. Gen. 2:18¹⁸And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18).

Increasing the species. Gen. 1:28²⁸And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:28). Gen. 9:1¹And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. (Genesis 9:1).

Raising up a godly seed. Mal. 2:15¹⁵And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. (Malachi 2:15).

Preventing fornication. 1 Cor. 7:2²Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:2).

The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age. Gen. 3:15¹⁵And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15), with Gen. 4:1¹And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. (Genesis 4:1). (marg.)

Lawful in all. 1 Cor. 7:2, 28²Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:2)
²⁸But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. (1 Corinthians 7:28). 1 Tim. 5:14¹⁴I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. (1 Timothy 5:14).

Honorable for all. Heb. 13:4⁴Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4).

Should be only in the Lord. 1 Cor. 7:39³⁹The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:39).

EXPRESSED BY

Joining together. Matt. 19:6⁶Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:6). Making affinity. 1 Kin. 3:1.

Taking to wife. Ex. 2:1¹And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. (Exodus 2:1).

Giving daughters to sons, and sons to daughters. Deut. 7:3³Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. (Deuteronomy 7:3). Ezra 9:12¹²Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. (Ezra 9:12).

Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties. Matt. 19:6⁶Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:6). Rom. 7:2, 3²For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. ³So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. (Romans 7:2‑3). 1 Cor. 7:39³⁹The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:39).

Early introduction of polygamy. Gen. 4:19¹⁹And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. (Genesis 4:19).

Contracted in patriarchal age with near relations. Gen. 20:12¹²And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. (Genesis 20:12). Gen. 24:24²⁴And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. (Genesis 24:24). Gen. 28:2²Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. (Genesis 28:2).

Often contracted by parents for children. Gen. 24:49-51⁴⁹And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. ⁵⁰Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. ⁵¹Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken. (Genesis 24:49‑51). Gen. 34:6, 8⁶And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. (Genesis 34:6)
⁸And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. (Genesis 34:8).

Should be with consent of parents. Gen. 28:8⁸And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; (Genesis 28:8). Judg. 14:2, 3²And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. ³Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. (Judges 14:2‑3).

Consent of the parties necessary to. Gen. 24:57, 58⁵⁷And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. ⁵⁸And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. (Genesis 24:57‑58). 1 Sam. 18:20²⁰And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. (1 Samuel 18:20). 1 Sam. 25:41⁴¹And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. (1 Samuel 25:41).

Parents might refuse to give their children in. Ex. 22:17¹⁷If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. (Exodus 22:17). Deut. 7:3³Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. (Deuteronomy 7:3).

THE JEWS

Forbidden to contract, with their near relations. Lev. 18:6⁶None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 18:6).

Forbidden to contract with idolaters. Deu. 7:3, 4. Jos. 23:12¹²Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: (Joshua 23:12). Ezr. 9:11, 12¹¹Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. ¹²Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. (Ezra 9:11‑12).

Often contracted with idolaters. 1 Kin. 11:1. Neh. 13:23²³In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: (Nehemiah 13:23).

Sometimes guilty of polygamy. 1 Kings 11:1-3¹But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; ²Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. ³And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. (1 Kings 11:1‑3).

Careful in contracting for their children. Gen. 24:2, 3²And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: ³And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: (Genesis 24:2‑3). Gen. 28: 1, 2.

Betrothed themselves some time before. Deut. 20:7⁷And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. (Deuteronomy 20:7). Judg. 14:5, 7⁵Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. (Judges 14:5)
⁷And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. (Judges 14:7) with 8 v. Matt. 1:18¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18).

Contracted when young. Prov. 2:17¹⁷Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. (Proverbs 2:17) Joel 1:8⁸Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. (Joel 1:8).

Often contracted, in their own tribe. Exo. 2:1¹And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. (Exodus 2:1). Num. 36:6-13⁶This 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. ⁷So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. ⁸And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. ⁹Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance. ¹⁰Even as the Lord commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad: ¹¹For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father's brothers' sons: ¹²And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. ¹³These are the commandments and the judgments, which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. (Numbers 36:6‑13). Luke 1:5, 27⁵There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. (Luke 1:5)
²⁷To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:27).

Obliged to contract with a brother's wife who died without seed. Deut. 25:5⁵If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. (Deuteronomy 25:5). Matt. 22:24²⁴Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. (Matthew 22:24).

Considered being debarred from, a reproach. Isa. 4:1¹And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. (Isaiah 4:1).

Considered being debarred from, a cause of grief. Judg. 11:38³⁸And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. (Judges 11:38).

Often punished by being debarred from. Jer. 7:34³⁴Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate. (Jeremiah 7:34). Jer. 16:9⁹For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride. (Jeremiah 16:9). Jer. 25:10¹⁰Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. (Jeremiah 25:10).

Were allowed divorce from, because of hardness of their hearts. Deut. 24:1¹When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. (Deuteronomy 24:1), with Matt. 19:7, 8⁷They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? ⁸He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (Matthew 19:7‑8).

Exempted from going to war immediately after. Deut. 20:7⁷And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. (Deuteronomy 20:7).

Priest not to contract, with divorced or improper persons. Lev. 21:7⁷They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God. (Leviticus 21:7).

The high priest not to contract, with a widow or a divorced or profane person. Lev. 21:14¹⁴A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife. (Leviticus 21:14).

Contracted at the gate and before witnesses. Ruth 4:1, 10, 11¹Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. (Ruth 4:1)
¹⁰Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. ¹¹And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: (Ruth 4:10‑11).

Modes of demanding women in. Gen. 24:3, 4³And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: ⁴But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. (Genesis 24:3‑4). Gen. 34:6, 8⁶And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. (Genesis 34:6)
⁸And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. (Genesis 34:8). 1 Sam. 25:39, 40³⁹And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. ⁴⁰And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. (1 Samuel 25:39‑40).

Elder daughters usually given in, before the younger. Gen. 29:26²⁶And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. (Genesis 29:26).

A dowry given to the woman's parents before. Gen. 29:18¹⁸And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. (Genesis 29:18). Gen. 34:12¹²Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. (Genesis 34:12). 1 Sam. 18:27, 28²⁷Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. ²⁸And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. (1 Samuel 18:27‑28). Hos. 3:2²So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: (Hosea 3:2).

CELEBRATED,

With great rejoicing. Jer. 33:11¹¹The 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 33:11). John 3:29²⁹He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29).

With feasting. Gen. 29:22²²And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. (Genesis 29:22). Judg. 14:10¹⁰So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. (Judges 14:10). Matt. 22:2, 3²The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, ³And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. (Matthew 22:2‑3). John 2:1-10¹And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: ²And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. ³And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. ⁴Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. ⁵His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. ⁶And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. ⁷Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. ⁹When 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, ¹⁰And 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. (John 2:1‑10).

For seven days. Judg. 14:12¹²And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: (Judges 14:12).

A benediction pronounced after. Gen. 24:60⁶⁰And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. (Genesis 24:60). Ruth 4:11,12¹¹And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: ¹²And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman. (Ruth 4:11‑12).

THE BRIDE

Received presents before. Gen. 24:53⁵³And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. (Genesis 24:53).

Given a handmaid at. Gen. 24:59⁵⁹And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. (Genesis 24:59). Gen. 29:24, 29²⁴And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. (Genesis 29:24)
²⁹And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. (Genesis 29:29).

Adorned with jewels for. Isa. 49: Isa. 61:10¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10).

Gorgeously appareled. Psa. 45:13,14¹³The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. ¹⁴She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. (Psalm 45:13‑14).

Attended by bridesmaids. Psa. 45:9⁹Kings' daughters were among thy honorable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. (Psalm 45:9).

Stood on the right of bridegroom. Psa. 45:9⁹Kings' daughters were among thy honorable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. (Psalm 45:9).

Called to forget her father's house. Psa. 45:10¹⁰Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; (Psalm 45:10).

THE BRIDEGROOM

Adorned with ornaments. Isa. 61:10¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10).

Attended by many friends. Judg. 14:11¹¹And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. (Judges 14:11). John 3:29²⁹He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29).

Presented with gifts. Psa. 45:12¹²And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favor. (Psalm 45:12).

Crowned with garlands. SoS. 3:11.

Rejoiced over the bride. Isa. 62:5⁵For 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 62:5).

Returned with the bride to his house at night. Matt. 25:1-6¹Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ²And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:1‑6).

Garments provided for guests at. Matt. 22:12¹²And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (Matthew 22:12).

Infidelity of those contracted in, punished as if married. Deut. 22:23, 24²³If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; ²⁴Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 22:23‑24). Matt. 1:19¹⁹Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. (Matthew 1:19).

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

God's union with the Jewish nation. Isa. 54:5⁵For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (Isaiah 54:5). Jer. 3:14¹⁴Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: (Jeremiah 3:14). Hos. 2:19, 20¹⁹And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. ²⁰I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord. (Hosea 2:19‑20).

Christ's union with His church. Eph. 5:23, 24, 32²³For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. ²⁴Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5:23‑24)
³²This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32).

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• Law of Moses, the.

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