PART ONE: Common Financial Benefits of Marriage

1. Most singles pay more income taxes (on a percentage basis) than married couples.
2. Often insurance rates are lower for individuals when they are married.
3. Usually, married couples have more mortgage eligibility.
4. The marriage benefits are particularly pronounced for people who have widely different incomes.
5. Pension benefits can be greater when a surviving spouse gets payments that they would not get had they not been married.
6. If both spouses are married with different employers, each can choose the better of the two health insurance plans.
7. Car and home insurance coverage are often cheaper for two than for one.
8. In the long run, the lower paid spouse may be eligible for larger government social benefits than that person’s solo income would allow.

PART TWO: Analysis of Text (Especially for Men)

Before we dive into this text, let’s check the translation from the Hebrew.  Apparently there is or was some debate about the placement of the word "good'".

Some ancient versions of the Bible get into wife evaluation mode. The Septuagint version¹ of the Bible uses the word "good” to modify the word “wife” to read “a good wife is from the LORD.” Does that mean that a bad wife is from the devil? Perhaps. But note that, in general, a wife in and of herself is designed to be a “good thing” from the LORD, regardless of her character strengths and weaknesses. Remember that after God made Adam and Eve, God said all things were "very good." (Genesis 1:31)

Since then the issue of a good wife versus a bad wife has been a hot topic. Indeed, the choice of a wife is the second most important decision a man will ever make.

Based on my research and the opinions of most Biblical scholars, the Septuagint, which places the word “good” to modify the word wife, is inaccurate and fails to identify the basic truth that the other versions of the Bible communicate—a wife herself is a blessing to her husband.

The First Problem

Consider the first wife, Eve, and consider the word “good.” In the first two chapters of Genesis, the word “good” appears twelve times. In the twelfth time (Genesis 2:18) we are startled by something strange. For the first time in the Bible, something is called “not good.” What was “not good?” Adam’s singleness. How was Adam single? Adam was not alone; he had many friendly animals all around him. Yet none of the animals was good enough for Adam. Adam needed a suitable companion, not another man, not many women, but one and only one fit for companionship and mutual support.

The Solution

To remedy this “not good” condition, God made Eve. She would be a good and suitable companion for Adam. No other female from any other species, was recorded as being made from a part of the male. Woman—literally meaning “taken out of man”—was unique. Eve was made from Adam’s rib to be close to his side. She was not made from the earth as was Adam and all animals, but from Adam’s own body. She was not taken from his foot to be oppressed by him, nor from his head to be over him, but from his side—close to his heart; to walk beside him, neither in front of him, nor behind him.

The One Good Solution

Eve was a “good” solution since at the end of the creation process, everything was “very good,” (Genesis 1:31). God made one—and only one—woman to complement Adam. The Bible opposes polygamy. The “blessing” of multiple wives for wealthy, powerful men, who could easily afford a harem, is not a blessing. The kings of Israel were warned specifically not to “multiply wives for themselves,” (Deuteronomy 17:17). Instead, God wants men to choose very wisely, under His direction, in selecting their one and only wife for life.

But what about Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon who all had more than one wife? A careful reading of the Bible shows that in every case their multiple wives just brought problems into their lives. This is especially true of Solomon whose many wives turned Solomon’s heart away from the LORD. Read the summary in 1 Kings 11:1-6. From the beginning God’s design was one wife for one man for life, as Jesus re-emphasized when asked about divorce. In Matthew 19:3-12. One man and one woman for life.

Good Yet Vulnerable

Eve was a good match for Adam—the perfect match. Yet Eve was the point of attack through which Satan ruined, the very good condition of God’s creation. Adam even blamed his own sin (rebellion against God’s command) on Eve and to some extent even on God. “The woman whom You gave to be with me, gave me some of the fruit of the tree to eat,” (Genesis 3:12). Did that mean that Eve was not a good thing for Adam? NO. At the end of the 6th day of creation, God said that everything was “very good.” What then makes for an ideal wife?

The Ideal Wife

Elsewhere (Proverbs 19:4, 31:10-31), we see that of all the qualities that God esteems most is prudence. Inner beauty, not outer beauty. But make no mistake: God made women to be outwardly beautiful.

A wife is an essential part of her husband’s life. She can be an outstanding blessing or a horrible curse. To study this very important and highly controversial topic look at the keyword marriage.

Foolish Marriage Choices

Although marriage is generally to be preferred over singleness, foolish marriage choices make life worse. Even normally pious men can make foolish marriage choices. In Genesis 6, we read that “the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took wives from themselves, whomever they chose. [ emphasis added] Then God said, “My Spirit will not always strive with man because he also is flesh.”

This passage has been debated for thousands of years. Who were these “sons of God” and these “daughters of men?” Why was God’s Spirit contending with His creation of flesh?

Based upon extensive research, I have concluded that the “sons of God” were pious men, or perhaps men of rank, who were making marriage choices based on a woman’s external beauty. I see. I like. I take. They resisted the leading from God’s Spirit. God was not pleased!!

Sadly, many intelligent and well-meaning Bible scholars skip the message of Genesis 6:3 and jump to Genesis 6:4. Then they begin to speculate vividly about the mysterious Hebrew word “Nephilim.” This certainly engages the imagination! But it also bypasses the admonition to pious men to submit to God’s Spirit in the ultra important decision of spouse selection.

PART 3: Analysis For Women

The text is addressed to men. Is it just as good for a woman to find a husband as for a man to find a wife? If finding a wife is a good thing for a man is finding a husband a good thing for a woman?

In general, the Bible says that two are better than one. “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him (Eccl 4:9-12).

Jesus sent his workers out to two by two. Clearly there are benefits from companionship, so long as the companion is agreeable. But are all partnerships bliss?

Better Off Single?

I know of no equivalent text addressed specifically to women. This may imply that it is better for a woman to be single than to be married to a man who is evil and self-centered.

The Bible says that “no good thing does God withhold from those who walk uprightly.” According to the text, a wife is “a good thing,” but if a man is not walking uprightly then he should not be surprised if a wife is being withheld from him. If he choses to take a wife, in violation of the leading of God’s Spirit, then both the husband and that wife are in big trouble. She has just married an evil man. The Bible is very clear that “husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her,” (Ephesians 5:25).

Imagine if all, or even most, husbands loved their wives enough to give up everything for them. Sadly, deadbeat husbands and miserable wives abound. Without the leadership of the Spirit of God, a marriage is a miserable institution.

Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend

When God brought Eve to Adam, he was pleased to see her and named her Woman—the feminine version of man. Adam himself was the prototype. (1 Corinthians 11:8,12)

After Adam saw all the animals, including the two-footed ones, and none matched him, Adam finally saw Eve—“’At last’ the man exclaimed. ‘This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” Adam was obviously pleased. When the couple was together before the great rebellion. All things were “very good,” (Genesis 1:31).

Near the end of the Bible, we read “the marriage supper of the Lamb,” (Revelation 19:9). Jesus Christ came to get a bride for Himself, a wife for whom He died, purchased by His blood.

¹What is the “Septuagint?” The term refers to the first translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek by a team of seventy scholars about 280-250 BC. 

²Reaume, Jacob. 2023. Bible Based Marriage. Asser Press. P46.