Encyclopedia entry
Wife
The ordinance of marriage was sanctioned in Paradise (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Monogamy was the original law under which man lived, but polygamy early commenced (Gen. 4:19), and continued to prevail all down through Jewish history. The law of Moses regulated but did not prohibit polygamy. A man might have a plurality of wives, but a wife could have only one husband. A wife’s legal rights (Ex. 21:10) and her duties (Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:14) are specified. She could be divorced in special cases (Deut. 22:13-21), but could not divorce her husband. Divorce was restricted by our Lord to the single case of adultery (Matt. 19:3-9). The duties of husbands and wives in their relations to each other are distinctly set forth in the New Testament (1 Cor. 7:2-5; Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18, 19; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
[Marriage]
In the Bible
387
Verses where Wife is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 2:18
Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. These were the sons of Azubah: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
- 1 Chronicles 2:24
After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah bore to him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
- 1 Chronicles 2:26
Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah, who was the mother of Onam.
- 1 Chronicles 2:29
Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, and she bore to him Ahban and Molid.
- 1 Chronicles 2:35
Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore to him Attai.
- 1 Chronicles 3:3
the fifth was Shephatiah by Abital; and the sixth was Ithream by his wife Eglah.
+381 more verses naming Wife.
Scripture on Wife
172
See all 172 +−
- Matthew 19Genesis 12Leviticus 181 Samuel 25Genesis 26Genesis 36Genesis 38Genesis 39Numbers 5Exodus 21Leviticus 20Deuteronomy 21Deuteronomy 24Judges 141 Kings 141 Chronicles 2Mark 10Ephesians 5Genesis 3Genesis 4Genesis 25Genesis 28Deuteronomy 25Judges 212 Samuel 112 Samuel 12Luke 1Luke 20Genesis 2Genesis 19Genesis 34Exodus 6Exodus 18Leviticus 21Judges 4Ruth 41 Samuel 182 Samuel 31 Kings 211 Chronicles 41 Chronicles 7Ezekiel 18Malachi 2Matthew 1Matthew 22Mark 12Acts 5Genesis 7Genesis 8Genesis 11Genesis 16Genesis 17Genesis 18Genesis 23Genesis 29Genesis 30Deuteronomy 28Joshua 15Judges 1Judges 15Ruth 11 Samuel 11 Samuel 301 Kings 21 Kings 4Esther 5Job 31Proverbs 19Proverbs 21Proverbs 31Isaiah 54Jeremiah 3Matthew 5Mark 6Luke 141 Timothy 31 Timothy 51 Peter 3Genesis 6Genesis 13Genesis 21Genesis 27Genesis 41Genesis 44Genesis 46Genesis 49Exodus 2Exodus 4Exodus 20Exodus 22Numbers 12Numbers 26Numbers 30Numbers 36Deuteronomy 5Deuteronomy 13Deuteronomy 20Deuteronomy 27Judges 5Judges 111 Samuel 21 Samuel 41 Samuel 141 Samuel 191 Samuel 272 Samuel 22 Samuel 171 Kings 71 Kings 91 Kings 111 Kings 162 Kings 42 Kings 52 Kings 82 Kings 142 Kings 221 Chronicles 31 Chronicles 82 Chronicles 82 Chronicles 112 Chronicles 212 Chronicles 222 Chronicles 252 Chronicles 34Ezra 2Nehemiah 7Esther 6Job 2Job 19Psalms 109Psalms 128Proverbs 5Proverbs 6Proverbs 12Proverbs 18Proverbs 25Ecclesiastes 9Jeremiah 5Jeremiah 6Jeremiah 16Ezekiel 16Ezekiel 22Ezekiel 24Ezekiel 33Hosea 1Hosea 2Hosea 3Hosea 12Amos 7Matthew 14Matthew 18Matthew 27Luke 2Luke 3Luke 8Luke 16Luke 17Luke 18John 19Acts 18Acts 241 Corinthians 51 Corinthians 9Colossians 3Titus 1Revelation 19Revelation 21
Entries that reference Wife
5
More illustrations of Wife
2
Voices on Wife
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
![Tyson James - My Wife [Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-ya9hF8PDEg/hqdefault.jpg)
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.