
The Bible is often used to justify racism and racial segregation, with some arguing that it prohibits interracial marriage. However, the Bible never explicitly mentions interracial marriage, and the passages that are used to argue against it are based on outdated notions of race and ethnicity. The Old Testament, for instance, commands the Israelites not to engage in interracial marriage with the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 7:3–4), but this instruction is rooted in religious differences, not skin colour. The New Testament also warns against being yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14), but this is in reference to maintaining spiritual purity and has nothing to do with race. While interracial couples may face discrimination and ridicule, the Bible does not forbid interracial marriage. Instead, it emphasises equality and oneness in Christ, with all humans descended from Adam and Eve, belonging to the same human race.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Is interracial marriage a sin in the Bible? | No, the Bible does not explicitly prohibit interracial marriage. |
Biblical justification | The Old Testament Law, Deuteronomy 7:3-4, commands Israelites not to engage in interracial marriage for religious reasons, not skin colour or ethnicity. |
Biblical justification | 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers", refers to a similar principle of spiritual purity, not race. |
Biblical justification | The story of Moses marrying a Cushite (Ethiopian) woman, despite his sister Miriam's racist reaction, suggests God frowns upon racists, not interracial marriage. |
Biblical justification | The book of Ruth tells the story of a foreigner who became part of the lineage of Christ. |
Biblical justification | Colossians 3:11 clarifies that from God's perspective, all are one in Christ. |
Biblical justification | The Bible does not speak against interracial marriage, but it is also not always considered a good thing due to potential racism, prejudice, and discrimination faced by interracial couples. |
What You'll Learn
The Bible does not explicitly prohibit interracial marriage
The Old Testament Law commanded the Israelites not to engage in interracial marriage (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). However, the reason for this command was not skin colour or ethnicity, but rather religion. The Israelites were warned against marrying foreigners who were worshippers of false gods, as intermarriage with idol worshippers, pagans, or heathens would lead the Israelites astray. This is further supported by the fact that Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, took an Ethiopian wife, a Cushite, and God punished Miriam, Moses' sister, for rebuking him for this interracial marriage (Numbers 12:1-15).
The New Testament also addresses this issue, but from a religious rather than racial perspective. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, it states, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" This passage is often interpreted as a warning for Christians not to marry non-Christians, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
While some people interpret certain Bible passages, such as the "Curse of Ham," as prohibiting interracial marriage, these interpretations are controversial and not universally accepted. The Bible's use of "ethnicity" or "nationality" does not align with modern concepts of race and ethnicity.
Ultimately, the Bible does not explicitly prohibit interracial marriage. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of shared religious beliefs between spouses. Interracial couples may face cultural prejudices and discrimination, but these are not addressed as sins or prohibited in the Bible.
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The Old Testament warns Israelites against marrying foreigners
The Old Testament contains several warnings against the Israelites marrying foreigners. Deuteronomy 7:3–4 states: "You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons". The text goes on to explain that marrying foreigners would lead the Israelites' sons to "turn away" from God and "serve other gods".
This command was not about skin colour or ethnicity, but about religious differences and the worship of false idols. The Israelites were warned that marrying foreigners would lead them astray from their own religious practices and beliefs. This is further supported by Malachi 2:11, which states that the Israelites were led astray by intermarriage with idolaters.
The book of Numbers also addresses this issue. Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, took an Ethiopian wife, which angered his sister, Miriam. God judged Miriam for her racist reaction and gave her leprosy. This incident demonstrates that God does not condone racism and that the warnings against intermarriage were based on religious, not racial, differences.
The New Testament also addresses this topic, but from a different perspective. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, the text states: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers". This passage is similar in spirit to the Old Testament warnings, advising Christians not to marry non-Christians, regardless of their kindness or goodness. The focus is on religious compatibility rather than racial or ethnic differences.
While the Bible warns against intermarriage with those of different religious beliefs, it does not prohibit interracial marriage. The Bible recognises only one race—the human race—and emphasises equality and oneness in Christ. Interracial marriage is a matter of personal choice and prayer, and discrimination or prejudice based on race has no place in the Christian life.
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The reason was religious, not racial
The Bible does not explicitly address interracial marriage. However, some passages have been interpreted to support the idea that interracial marriage is a sin. One such passage is Deuteronomy 7:3-4, where God commands the Israelites not to intermarry with the inhabitants of the promised land, specifically the Canaanites. The command was not because of skin colour or ethnicity but because of religious differences, as the Canaanites worshipped false gods. This interpretation is supported by other Old Testament scriptures that warned the Israelites against intermarriage with the people of Canaan due to their religious practices and not because of racial differences.
The New Testament also addresses the issue of marriage between believers and unbelievers, stating that Christians should not be "yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14). This warning is similar to the one given to the Israelites, emphasising the importance of marrying someone who shares the same faith rather than focusing on racial or ethnic differences.
The story of Moses marrying a Cushite woman, as mentioned in Numbers 12, further supports the idea that the issue was religious and not racial. Moses' sister, Miriam, criticised this interracial marriage, and God punished her for her racist reaction by giving her leprosy. This indicates that God frowns upon racism and does not prohibit interracial marriage based on skin colour or ethnicity.
While some people have used biblical passages to support the idea that interracial marriage is a sin, the Bible itself does not explicitly state this. The focus of the passages seems to be on maintaining spiritual purity and unity in faith rather than on racial segregation. As Martin Luther King Jr. noted, the Bible judges a person by their character and not by their skin colour. Ultimately, interracial marriage is a personal decision between a couple and God, and there is no biblical authority forbidding it.
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Interracial couples may face cultural prejudices
The Bible does not explicitly address interracial marriage, and there is no biblical authority for forbidding it. In fact, the biblical perspective is that there is only one "race" – the human race. However, interracial couples may face cultural prejudices and discrimination, and they should be prepared to respond to such prejudice in a biblical manner.
The Bible does contain passages that warn against intermarriage with followers of other gods. For example, Deuteronomy 7:3–4 states: "You must not intermarry with them, and you must not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from me to worship other gods." Similarly, 2 Corinthians 6:14 states: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" These passages are often interpreted as prohibiting interracial marriage. However, the reasoning behind these commands was religious rather than based on skin colour or ethnicity. The Bible never says that interracial marriage is wrong, and anyone who forbids it is doing so without biblical authority.
In the Bible, Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, married a Cushite woman, who was Ethiopian. His sister, Miriam, reacted with anger and racism. God judged Miriam and gave her leprosy, which can be interpreted as God frowning upon racism rather than interracial marriage.
In conclusion, while the Bible does not explicitly address interracial marriage, it is clear that it is not a sin. Interracial couples may face cultural prejudices and discrimination, and they should be prepared to respond to such challenges in a biblical manner. The decision to marry should be made between the couple and God, taking into account the potential impact on their cultural context and relationships.
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Interracial marriage is a personal choice
The Bible does not explicitly prohibit interracial marriage. In fact, the Bible never uses the term "race", instead, it acknowledges the existence of only one race—the human race.
The Old Testament Law commanded the Israelites not to engage in interracial marriage (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). However, the reason for this command was not skin colour or ethnicity, but religious differences. The Israelites were prohibited from marrying idolaters, pagans, or heathens, as they would be led astray and begin to worship false gods. This is further supported by the story of Moses, who married a Cushite woman, an Ethiopian, and faced criticism from his sister, Miriam, for doing so. God judged Miriam and punished her with leprosy, indicating that God frowns upon racism and racial discrimination.
The New Testament also addresses this issue, stating that Christians should not marry unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). This is not based on race but on spiritual purity and faith in Christ. The Bible emphasizes that all are one in Christ (Colossians 3:11), and that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, as the same Lord is Lord of all (Romans 10:12).
While the Bible does not forbid interracial marriage, it is important to recognize that interracial couples may face cultural prejudices, discrimination, and ridicule. As such, it is a matter of personal choice and prayerful consideration. Couples contemplating interracial marriage should be aware of the potential challenges and decide accordingly, seeking guidance from God and keeping their faith at the centre of their relationship.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Bible never says that interracial marriage is wrong. The Bible does, however, advise against marrying an unbeliever.
The Old Testament Law commanded the Israelites not to engage in interracial marriage (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). However, the reason for this was not skin colour or ethnicity, but religion. The Israelites were warned that marrying followers of false gods would lead them astray.
Yes, Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, took a wife who was a Cushite, an Ethiopian. His sister, Miriam, was racist about the marriage and was punished by God. Another example is the book of Ruth, which tells the story of a foreign woman who became part of the lineage of Christ.
Some people interpret certain Bible passages as prohibiting interracial marriage, such as the "Curse of Ham" in the Old Testament. Others believe that since God separated the races at the Tower of Babel, they should remain separate. However, the Tower of Babel speaks of God separating people by language, not race.