where can I find biblical information on the roles in a marriage according to the old testament?

Question

The wifes role in being submissive. What is expected of her from god, and what is expected of her from the husband?

Answer 1

Eve was brought to Adam who pronounced her "bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh" and "called her woman." It is out of this Creation relationship that marriage is defined (Gen. 2:24). There is a special physical connection that underlies the husband and wife union. However, there is also a deep functional and practical aspect to the design of the marriage relationship reflected in the word used to describe the purpose for Eve's creation. She need not be confused about her value or worth nor concerned about a loss of identity or importance.

The Scriptural standard for a woman's role in marriage is neither ambiguous nor pedantic. It is based in the Creation story outlined in God's infallible and wholly relevant Word. In the wisdom and plan of Almighty God the marriage relationship between man and woman was provided. After God had created the earth and prepared it in every way to be suitable to man, He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18). It seems that this was the one lack in Adam's life, namely, a woman who could be his companion, receive his love, and share his dominion over the earth. So God created the woman and presented her to Adam. The first marriage was God's doing. Marriage was not a human idea but a Divine institution.


Since God provided for the marriage relationship it is His desire that both husband and wife find pleasure in it. “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband . . . ” (Proverbs 12:4). “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth” (Proverbs 5:18).


Even though the husband is commanded to love his wife (Ephesians 5:25), and the wife her husband (Titus 2:4), each knows that obedience to this command adds pleasure to the marriage relationship. In Old Testament times any failure to bear children was looked upon as a sure sign of God's disfavor. When God said to our first parents, “Be fruitful, and multiply,” He issued a command. Had Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their disobedience would have meant the death of the human race. In the heart of every normal wife is the desire of motherhood. That desire was put there by God. Marriage is not just for partnership and pleasure, but it is for parenthood also.

If you want a happy marriage, make up your minds that you are going to live within your means. Many marriages have been broken over financial matters. The wife must make up her mind that she will be satisfied with what her husband can provide. The Bible says, “Be content with such things as ye have” (Hebrews 13:5); “Beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:1). “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (I Timothy 6:6

The Lord Jesus Christ could not be in disagreement with His Father's ruling on the permanency of marriage. He said, “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 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9 cf. Genesis 2:24). Please note that it is “What God hath joined together,” not “Whom God hath joined together.” The emphasis is upon the institution of marriage, not upon a certain class of persons coming to be married. The rule of permanency is binding upon all married persons. Marriage is a civil institution, that is, the rules apply to all civilization.

In verse 27 we read, “Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed . . .” Here the word “bound” is the Greek word desmeuo, the term Paul used when referring to the marriage relationship. He used the same word when speaking about the permanency of marriage in Romans 7, “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth . . .” (Romans 7:2). If Paul had reference to marriage in I Corinthians 7:15 he unquestionably would have used this word. Most certainly he is not allowing for marriage and divorce

Further, the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians teaches Christian wives regarding their responsibilities to help their husbands: "Wives be subject to your husbands as though to the Lord; for the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. Christ is, indeed, the Savior of that body (i.e., the Church) but just as the Church is subject to Christ, so are the wives subject to their husbands in everything" (Eph. 5:22-24). It might seem that in obliging the wives to obey their husbands, the Apostle belittles their human worth. But that is absolutely not so. Here the Apostle describes the ideal marital relationships. The Church obeys Christ as its Savior and benefactor. This is not slavish subordination but an impulse of responsive
love. Sorry for the length, you asked for biblical info and verses. I did a lot of reading and chose the appropriate verses.

Answer 2

Sure,

The Bible is the best place for that.
Check it out.

The Bible Numbers 5:19
Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, " If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you.

The Bible 1 Corinthians 7: 34
and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the
Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world — how she can please her husband.

The Bible Romans 7:2
For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.

The Bible 1 Timothy 2 : 9 - 15
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing — if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Have a nice day.

Answer 3

Try "Marriage & Family The Missing Dimension" at http://www.gnmagazine.org/booklets/FM/ The United Church of God has about the best literature I've seen to start out a serious Bible study.

Answer 4

you might try crosswalk.com but god also said a husband must love his wife like GOD loves the church

Answer 5

probably in the old testament.

Answer 6

Please don't go there. Please, I beg you. Think for yourself and use common sense.