Adam and Eve – Married in Eden
The Bible states that Adam and Eve were married in the garden of Eden. However, there is no reference to the wedding ceremony. The book of Genesis refers to Eve as Adam’s wife: “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25).
And Genesis also refers to Adam as Eve’s husband: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6).
The story of Adam and Eve’s union in marriage goes this way: after God created Adam, He said “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him’” (Genesis 2:18). So, God “caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam” and “He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:21-22).
Upon seeing Eve, 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” (Genesis 2:23). And the very next verse says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).
Jesus quoted this last verse and added, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6 also Mark 10:9; Ephesians 5:31). So, it is clear that the Bible affirms that Adam and Eve were married to each in the Garden of Eden.
In early biblical times (antediluvian and patriarchal eras), marriages often took place between persons simply by consummation. Later, ceremonies were attached to marriages and other obligations such as contracts, dowries, cultural customs, and familial traditions. The concept of modern marriages around the world is different from the early Bible times. Today, the civil authorities are part of the marriage arrangements requiring licenses and marriage certificates.
God Conducted the First Marriage
The sacred union of Adam and Eve was carried out by the Creator of the universe. God being the Father of Adam and Eve must have united them in marriage in Eden. The Bible record tells us that when the Lord created Eve, He “brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:22).
Marriage was one of the first gifts of God to man. Therefore, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). Only when marriage is used to serve wrong purposes does it lose the quality of being “honorable.”
It was an All-wise Creator who instituted the marriage relationship and made it desirable. All those that get united in the marriage relationship are therefore “joined,” according to the original plan of God, for life. The Lord intended it to be a great blessing for His children. For it brings happiness, meets man’s social needs, strengthens his physical, mental, emotional, and moral faculties.
With the one exception for which Christ makes provision for breaking the bond of marriage, divorce cannot be accepted in heaven. In the eyes of the Lord any relationship either the husband or wife may have with another man or woman is labeled by Christ as adultery. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
