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Christian Weddings

50 Beautiful Bible Verses for Wedding Ceremonies

Fifty Bible verses for weddings, quoted from the King James Version and grouped by theme, with tips for choosing readings, readers and program verses.

Updated · 10 min read

The Bible verses most often read at weddings speak of love, faithfulness, two lives becoming one and God's blessing on a home. Below are 50 verses grouped into seven themes, each quoted from the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation. Use them to choose your ceremony readings, a verse for your program or invitation, or words to pray over each other.

Key takeaways

  • All 50 verses below are quoted from the King James Version (KJV), with chapter and verse so you can look them up in any translation.
  • A ceremony reading is often a short passage of several verses, so pick a theme and read the neighboring verses together.
  • Catholic weddings use readings from the approved Lectionary in the translation your parish uses, so use this list for ideas and confirm with your priest.
  • Ask your pastor or priest how many readings to choose and who may read them.
Illustration of an open Bible with a ribbon, two rings and olive branches beside the article title
Illustration of an open Bible with a ribbon, two rings and olive branches beside the article title

How to use this list

A few practical notes before you start choosing:

  • Readings are usually passages. Most churches read a few connected verses, such as 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 or Colossians 3:12-14. The verses below are listed one at a time so you can find the lines you love, then read the full passage around them.
  • Check the translation your church uses. The KJV's older English is beautiful but may be unfamiliar to some guests. Your church may prefer a modern translation for the ceremony itself. The chapter and verse are the same, so you can easily compare.
  • Catholic weddings. Readings are chosen from the options in the Lectionary for marriage, in the translation approved for liturgical use in your country. Your priest or parish coordinator will give you the list. Verses outside it can still appear in your program, invitation or reception.
  • Notice the old words. In the KJV, "charity" in 1 Corinthians 13 means love, "turtle" in the Song of Solomon means the turtledove, and "help meet" means a suitable helper.

Love is patient: 1 Corinthians 13 and more

1 Corinthians 13 is one of the best-loved wedding readings. Paul wrote it to a church community, which is why it speaks to everyone in the room, not only the couple.

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 (KJV): "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV): "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,"
  3. 1 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV): "Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"
  4. 1 Corinthians 13:6 (KJV): "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;"
  5. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (KJV): "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
  6. 1 Corinthians 13:8 (KJV): "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
  7. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV): "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
  8. 1 Corinthians 16:14 (KJV): "Let all your things be done with charity."

God's love and ours

These verses root the couple's love in God's love. They suit a homily theme or a verse printed on the program cover.

  1. 1 John 4:7 (KJV): "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."
  2. 1 John 4:8 (KJV): "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
  3. 1 John 4:12 (KJV): "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."
  4. 1 John 4:16 (KJV): "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
  5. 1 John 4:18 (KJV): "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
  6. 1 John 4:19 (KJV): "We love him, because he first loved us."
  7. John 13:34 (KJV): "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
  8. John 15:12 (KJV): "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."

Two becoming one

These passages speak directly about marriage, from the creation accounts in Genesis to the words of Jesus and Paul.

  1. Genesis 1:27 (KJV): "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
  2. Genesis 2:18 (KJV): "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
  3. Genesis 2:24 (KJV): "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
  4. Matthew 19:6 (KJV): "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
  5. Mark 10:8 (KJV): "And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh."
  6. Ephesians 5:25 (KJV): "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"
  7. Ephesians 5:31 (KJV): "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."
  8. Proverbs 18:22 (KJV): "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD."

Romance and delight: Song of Solomon

The Song of Solomon is a love poem, and its images of spring, seals and many waters make lovely readings and vow-book inscriptions.

  1. Song of Solomon 2:10 (KJV): "My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."
  2. Song of Solomon 2:11 (KJV): "For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;"
  3. Song of Solomon 2:12 (KJV): "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;"
  4. Song of Solomon 2:16 (KJV): "My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies."
  5. Song of Solomon 4:7 (KJV): "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee."
  6. Song of Solomon 8:6 (KJV): "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame."
  7. Song of Solomon 8:7 (KJV): "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned."

Commitment and faithfulness

Ruth's promise was spoken to her mother-in-law, Naomi, not to a spouse, but its loyalty has made it a favorite at weddings. Ecclesiastes gives the "threefold cord," often read with a cord of three strands ritual.

  1. Ruth 1:16 (KJV): "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:"
  2. Ruth 1:17 (KJV): "Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
  3. Ecclesiastes 4:9 (KJV): "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour."
  4. Ecclesiastes 4:10 (KJV): "For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
  5. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (KJV): "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
  6. Proverbs 3:3 (KJV): "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:"
  7. Lamentations 3:23 (KJV): "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

Living together in grace

These verses describe everyday love: kindness, patience and forgiveness. Many couples choose one as a "life verse" for their marriage.

  1. Colossians 3:12 (KJV): "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"
  2. Colossians 3:13 (KJV): "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
  3. Colossians 3:14 (KJV): "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
  4. Ephesians 4:2 (KJV): "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
  5. Ephesians 4:32 (KJV): "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
  6. 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV): "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

Blessings and building a home

These verses fit the closing blessing, a toast, the reception menu card or a sign at the entrance.

  1. Numbers 6:24 (KJV): "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:"
  2. Numbers 6:25 (KJV): "The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:"
  3. Numbers 6:26 (KJV): "The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
  4. Psalm 118:24 (KJV): "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
  5. Psalm 127:1 (KJV): "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
  6. Romans 15:13 (KJV): "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
Guide to the seven verse themes, with the number of verses in each and where they work best
Guide to the seven verse themes, with the number of verses in each and where they work best

How to choose your readings

  1. Ask how many readings you need. Many Protestant ceremonies include one to three readings. A Catholic wedding usually has an Old Testament reading, a psalm, a New Testament reading and a Gospel.
  2. Pick a theme. Choosing passages that echo one another, such as faithfulness or love in action, gives your officiant a thread for the sermon.
  3. Read them aloud together. A passage that looks lovely on the page may be hard to read aloud. Try it in the translation your church uses.
  4. Match readers to readings. Give longer passages to confident readers, and send each reader their passage and the translation a few weeks ahead.
  5. Share your choices with your officiant. They may suggest a passage that fits your story or the church's practice.

Using verses beyond the ceremony

Scripture can carry through the whole celebration: a verse on the invitation or save-the-date, a line engraved inside your rings, a verse on the welcome sign, the program cover or the cake table, and a blessing read before the meal. Choose one "anchor" verse and repeat it so guests remember it.

Plan it in WeddingOS: put your chosen verse on your wedding website and invitation suite so guests see it from the first save-the-date to the RSVP form. Create your free wedding plan.

Frequently asked questions

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the passage that begins "Charity suffereth long, and is kind" in the KJV ("Love is patient, love is kind" in many modern translations), is one of the most familiar wedding readings. Genesis 2:24, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Ruth 1:16-17 and Colossians 3:12-14 are also widely used. Choose the one that best fits your story and your church's practice.

Why does the King James Version say "charity" instead of "love"?

The KJV, first published in 1611, translates the Greek word agape in 1 Corinthians 13 as "charity," which at the time carried a sense of selfless love. Most modern translations use "love." Either way, the passage describes the same patient, kind and enduring love.

Can we choose any Bible verse for a Catholic wedding?

Catholic wedding readings are generally chosen from the options in the Lectionary for marriage, in the translation approved for your country. Your priest or parish coordinator will give you the list. You can use other verses in your program, invitations or reception.

How many Bible readings are in a wedding ceremony?

It varies. Many Protestant ceremonies include one to three readings, while a Catholic wedding usually includes an Old Testament reading, a responsorial psalm, a New Testament reading and a Gospel. Ask your officiant what fits your service.

Is Ruth 1:16 appropriate for a wedding?

Many couples use Ruth 1:16-17 because it expresses deep loyalty and shared faith. In the Bible, Ruth speaks these words to her mother-in-law, Naomi, which some officiants mention when it is read. It is a common and well-loved wedding reading in many churches.

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