7 Bible Verses Every Couple Should Memorize for a Lasting Marriage

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

These verses show what love in action looks like. Love is not just an emotion; it’s a deliberate choice and commitment. This Bible passage highlights how both patience and kindness are to a loving relationship. Patience means giving your spouse grace in their struggles, allowing them the time and space to grow. Kindness calls for intentionally choosing kind words and actions with each other, even during stressful situations. Choosing to rejoice in the truth involves being transparent and honest, which creates an environment where you both can trust each other well and where both of you feel safe being vulnerable. These verses also emphasize the enduring and protective nature of love. “Always protects” suggests a commitment to protecting your partner from all types of harm: physical, emotional, or spiritual. Trusting and hoping speak to a forward-focused love that seeks the best for each other and believes in the potential of what God can do in your marriage, no matter what circumstances you go through together. Perseverance means being resilient and dealing with challenges together rather than apart. When you and your spouse try to live out these qualities, God will strengthen both your marriage and your character.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” 

Selflessness is key to a lasting marriage. This verse encourages you and your spouse to pay close attention to each other’s needs. Instead of trying to take control of your marriage to pursue your own agenda, do your best to serve and support each other. Even small acts of service can increase the love and passion in your marriage. If your spouse is sick or burned out, offer to do their share of the household chores until he or she recovers. If your spouse is struggling with discouragement, make time to listen and encourage them. Understanding and trying to fulfill your spouse’s unique love language is important. Does your spouse most appreciate words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, or physical touch? Once you know what love language he or she speaks, demonstrate your love in ways that speak that language to your spouse as often as you can. Regularly evaluate your motives and actions in your marriage. Ask yourself: “Am I really prioritizing my partner’s needs?” and “Am I seeking opportunities to serve my spouse, even when it’s inconvenient to do so?” If not, ask God to help you. By choosing humility and placing your spouse’s well-being above your own, you can help your marriage survive and thrive for a long time to come.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” 

These words emphasize the importance of humility, patience, and a commitment to unity. Being humble involves prioritizing your partner’s needs above your own while acknowledging that both of you bring unique strengths and struggles to your relationship. Gentleness means responding to conflicts between you with a calm and compassionate heart rather than reacting in anger or frustration. Patience is the foundation for bearing with one another in love. When you and your spouse are patient with each other, you give each other grace and mercy as you deal with misunderstandings or the aftermath of each other’s mistakes. Together, all of these qualities help create a relationship where both of you can feel safe, respected, and valued. Trying your best to maintain unity in your marriage, involves asking the Holy Spirit to show you both how to resolve conflicts in ways that strengthen rather than weaken the bond between you. When disagreements arise, try to listen more than you speak, and work to understand your spouse’s perspective without judgment. By doing so, you can not only relieve stress, but also communicate respect and care to each other. Develop a habit of setting aside time for open, calm discussions about the challenges in your lives while making sure that you both have the opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings freely. Pray for God to give you both peace and guidance as you do so. Finally, embrace the reality that you and your spouse are imperfect humans—but God loves you both completely and unconditionally. The more you trust God’s Spirit to help you, the more your marriage can reflect the qualities that Ephesians 4:2-3 describes.

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“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” 

This verse points out that your marriage is meant to be the most significant human relationship you have. The phrase “one flesh” speaks not only to physical intimacy but also to an emotional and spiritual oneness that comes from a deep connection between you and your spouse. Experiencing this unity requires you to make your marriage your top priority above all other relationships you have with other people—including those with extended family members who may want more of your time and energy than you can give. By setting healthy boundaries, you and your spouse can make sure that your relationship remains central to your lives, giving you all the space you need to grow together as a family unit. Only your relationship with God should come before your relationship with each other. So, devote the time and energy you need to focus on nurturing your marriage. Plan to talk together often about what’s on your hearts and minds. Do activities that you both enjoy together on a regular basis—from going on dates to cooking meals together at home. Make spending quality time together a high priority in both of your schedules. Physical intimacy also plays a vital role in a close marriage, so do whatever you can to keep a healthy sex life with your spouse. 

Finally, it’s important to approach life as a team, setting shared goals, making joint decisions, and supporting each other’s dreams—to keep trust and mutual respect strong in your relationship. By making a close marriage connection a top priority, you and your spouse can enjoy the unity God wants you to have, which will help your marriage last and grow stronger over time.

“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” 

These verses highlight two vital principles for a lasting, thriving marriage: gratitude and mutual submission. Practice gratitude by thanking God for your spouse every day and asking God to help you appreciate your husband or wife’s unique qualities and the role he or she plays in your life. Even during difficult circumstances, giving thanks for your spouse can help you recognize God’s presence and purpose in your life together. Gratitude reminds you of the blessings you share in your marriage. Mutual submission, as described in this Bible passage, is not about control but humility and respect. When you and your spouse mutually submit to each other, you take good care of each other’s needs by offering each other selfless love and support. True submission means seeking ways to serve your partner—such as through listening well and being kind to your spouse day by day. By committing to serve one another and submitting to Jesus together, you can experience the lasting love God wants for both of you.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Forgiveness is vital for a lasting marriage. Resentment and bitterness will poison the love and trust between you by creating an emotional distance that can chip away at your intimacy and communication. But forgiveness can bring you and your spouse closer together by helping you heal after you hurt each other. When you choose to forgive, God sends fresh love flowing into your life that can strengthen your marriage. Why should you forgive? Because God forgives you for your sins. Let your gratitude for how much God forgives you and your spouse for individual sins motivate you to obey God’s command to forgive each other for mistakes. When conflicts inevitably come up, approach them with a calm attitude and a focus on resolving the conflicts rather than assigning blame. Talk with each other openly and honestly without getting defensive. Check in regularly with your spouse to express concerns, acknowledge the pain, and seek forgiveness for any unintentional offenses between you. This practice can help prevent minor disagreements from escalating into major conflicts.

Memorizing and applying key Bible verses as a couple can help you and your spouse enjoy a lasting marriage. By living out verses about important marriage qualities like humility, service, forgiveness, and kindness, you can grow closer to each other and God.

Related Resource: Why "No Conflict Marriages" Don't Exist

What do you believe about conflict in marriage? There’s a popular marriage myth that says healthy marriages are conflict-free marriages, yet this couldn’t be further from the truth. Listen in to this episode of Team Us as we debunk this myth and share why couples in healthy marriages do experience conflict. If this episode helps your marriage, be sure to subscribe to Team Us on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.