I began to inquire of the LORD, more and more regarding this thing called, "marriage." Where did marriage originate? It seemed important to go back to the beginning of this idea seeking understanding for the original intent of matrimony.
The Bible is the book most fitting for learning where marriage originated as this book describes the beginning of all creation.
Let’s take a look at Genesis Chapter 2 in the Bible.
18 And the LORD God said, "[It is] not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This [is] now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
[Genesis 2:18; 21-25 NKJV]
It was God's realization or understanding; man shouldn't be alone. God formed Eve out of Adam's rib, brought Eve to Adam and Adam recognized Eve as a "woman" distinctly for him. While it's clear there was no "wedding ceremony" as we think of today, there was, in fact, a wedding and marriage established. Adam and Eve were equally yoked; two perfect specimens created for one another. There's no chance Adam would ever mistake Eve for another species or animal that lived on the earth. God formed the two of them and brought them together. He and all of Heaven were witnesses of this momentous occasion!
Notice the last sentence that gives the recognition of marriage, "and they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."
Looking at the definitions of wife and then marriage will help us gain greater insight into what's being said in this sentence.
Merriam-Webster defines the following:
Wife:
1. a married woman; the woman someone is married to
2. female partner in a marriage
Marriage:
1. the relationship that exists between husband and wife.
2. the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.
God designed and defined marriage. Marital relationship is for a male and a female committed to life-long relationship, living together and in most cases developing a family.
We'll take a closer look at the purposes of marriage in the next chapter. Let's develop a house of understanding built on a foundation solid rock. It's important to study history, so we can understand how we've come to the current status of this subject matter of marriage.
For more information on the legalities of marriage check out, The Biblical Marriage or Marriage License Fraud