Dating

Dating is not named in the Bible. This page lists the verses that speak to marrying in the Lord, finding a spouse, sexual purity before marriage, and love.

Marrying in the Lord

• 2 Corinthians 6:14
  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
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• 1 Corinthians 7:39
  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 7 →

Finding a spouse

• Proverbs 18:22
  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
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• Proverbs 31:30
  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
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• Genesis 24:12-14
  ¹²And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. ¹³Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
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• Genesis 29:18-20
  ¹⁸And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” ¹⁹And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” ²⁰And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
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Purity

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
  ³For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
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• 1 Corinthians 6:18
  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
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• 2 Timothy 2:22
  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
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• Song of Solomon 2:7
  I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
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Love

• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
  ⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. ⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
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• Romans 12:9-10
  ⁹Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
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Guarding the heart and seeking God

• Proverbs 4:23
  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
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• Matthew 6:33
  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
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• Proverbs 3:5-6
  ⁵Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
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See also

• Marriage
• Unequally yoked
• Singleness
• Sexual immorality
• Love

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.