Did God really intend for 13 & 14 year olds to get married in Jesus's time?

Question

Isn't that too young? Was that God's plan, or was it because of Roman rule or some other reason?

please only serious answers.

Answer 1

There were some good answers here.

What was missing, though, is a fuller explanation. A girl, with the onset of menstruation, was considered an adult. We today have arrived at the legal adulthood of 18 by some very arcane method. Think about it: why is an 18-year-old considered an adult, and not a 16-year-old, or 12-year-old?

The reason is, in *todays* culture, "basic" education ends at 18.

A mere 100 years ago, in many places in the U.S., basic education ended upon learning to read, write, add and subtract. In the late 1800s in western U.S., arranged marriages between adults under the age of 16 was commonplace. In Vermont, I believe the legal age for marriage (with parental consent) is *still* 12 for girls and 14 for boys (it was in the 1970s).

And what made a 12-year-old girl or 14-year-old boy an adult? Well, the *physical* evidence was the capability of producing children. The *cultural* evidence, however, was that a 14-year-old had learned everything he needed to successfully operate a farm. A 12-year-old girl had learned everything she needed to raise children and maintain a household. *When* it was commonplace for 12-14 year olds to get married, they had already become adults at that age.

Responsibility is learned, not "grown into".

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 2

In those days, people did not live quite so well...nutrition, and political unrest and disease played a role in this. Also, the mindset was not what it is in our society today. Those youngsters were mentally more mature than many of our mid-20 year olds...and they were physically developed enough to give birth, which was one of the main reasons for marriage...people, in those days had to work for everything they got, and 'instant gratification' was ONLY for the privileged few. The men died sooner than the women...(lots of reasons for this), and they often married someone who was most likely able to bear an heir. It was not considered immoral as it is today.
The rules we have today were set up because sociologically, our young people are not ready to raise children, although it happens. Back then, there were fewer single moms...look at the stats for today...they're still having kids, just not getting married. Is it God's plan, or is it a result of SIN in the world? I believe it is the latter.
Dean S...where did you get that garbage? It's not in the Bible.

Answer 3

A theologian (didn't catch the name) on CBS last week claimed that Mary was only 13 to 14 years old when she became pregnant with Jesus. (Notice I didn't say Injected by god). That seems young to those of us in the western culture, but the fact is it was common then and is still common today in some cultures.

Answer 4

Back when the Bible was written, it was considered normal for girls to be married off as soon as they'd begun to menstruate. In those days, it was not considered strange at all for a very young girl to be married. As soon as she was physically capable of becoming pregnant, she was considered a woman of marriageable age.

Answer 5

To be honest, humans lived a shorter life spans at that time and may have matured a bit quicker - or the level of what they considered mature was less than what we consider mature today.

Answer 6

You'd have to consider that in the time of Jesus people were considered old much earlier. 30 was probably ancient. A "woman" was such upon menses, and marriage at such an age would have maximized her capability of childbearing.

Answer 7

The life span of people was not then what it is now. Young women got married much earlier.

Answer 8

That was just customs back then, really I don't think this has anything to do with God....

Answer 9

I believe He planned for it.

Answer 10

At that time it made sense. Life was much less complicated then.