What does the Bible say about marrying cousins? This question has intrigued many individuals, especially those from cultures where cousin marriage is more common. The Bible, as a sacred text for Christians, offers guidance on various aspects of life, including marriage. However, its stance on cousin marriage is not explicitly stated, leading to debates and interpretations among scholars and believers.
In the Old Testament, there are instances where cousin marriage is mentioned. For example, in Genesis 20:12, Abraham lies to King Abimelech about his wife Sarah, claiming she is his sister to avoid the possibility of Abimelech taking her as a wife. This act of deception could be seen as a reflection of the cultural acceptance of cousin marriage at that time. However, it is important to note that Abraham’s lie was not condoned by God, as He later punished Abimelech for taking Sarah as his wife (Genesis 20:3-7).
Another example is found in Genesis 38, where Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, becomes pregnant with twins through her relationship with Judah. This passage does not explicitly address the issue of cousin marriage, but it does show that such relationships were not uncommon in biblical times.
In the New Testament, there is no direct mention of cousin marriage. However, some scholars argue that the prohibition of marriage between close relatives in the New Testament can be inferred from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. For instance, in Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus states that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of people’s hearts, but from the beginning, it was not so. This implies that God’s original intention was for marriage to be between one man and one woman, without specifying the degree of kinship.
The apostle Paul also addresses marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:39, suggesting that believers should marry someone outside their family. While this passage does not explicitly mention cousin marriage, it can be interpreted as a recommendation against close familial relationships in marriage.
In conclusion, the Bible does not provide a clear-cut answer to the question of what it says about marrying cousins. However, the Old Testament examples and the teachings of Jesus and Paul suggest that while cousin marriage may have been common in biblical times, it was not necessarily condoned by God. As believers seek to understand the Bible’s stance on this issue, they must consider the cultural context of the texts and the overall teachings of the Bible regarding marriage and family relationships.
