The Bible does not mention “same sex marriage” as a modern legal institution, but it consistently defines marriage as a covenant union between a man and a woman and treats same‑sex sexual relationships as outside that pattern.

Key Bible Passages on Marriage

Christians who say the Bible does not allow same‑sex marriage usually point to a core pattern:

  • Genesis 2:24 describes marriage as a man leaving his parents, being joined to his wife, and the two becoming “one flesh.”
  • Jesus affirms this in Matthew 19:4–6 and Mark 10:6–9, quoting Genesis and saying God created humanity “male and female” and joined husband and wife.
  • New Testament teachings on marriage (for example, Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Corinthians 7) discuss marriage only in male–female terms and use it as a picture of Christ and the church.

From this, many traditional interpreters conclude that biblical marriage is, by definition, male–female, lifelong, and covenantal.

Passages About Same‑Sex Sexual Relationships

There are also specific texts about same‑sex sexual behavior, even though they don’t discuss modern same‑sex marriage laws:

  • Old Testament laws (e.g., Leviticus 18 and 20) include prohibitions of male same‑sex intercourse, along with many other sexual and purity regulations, in Israel’s law code.
  • In the New Testament, Romans 1:26–27, 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, and 1 Timothy 1:10 are commonly cited as rejecting same‑sex sexual behavior as part of broader lists of sins.

Traditional Christian readings say these passages treat same‑sex sex as inconsistent with God’s design and therefore cannot be blessed as marriage.

How Traditional Christians Answer “What Does the Bible Say?”

Many conservative and evangelical groups summarize the Bible’s teaching along these lines:

  • The Bible defines marriage from creation onward as the union of one man and one woman.
  • The Bible does not directly address “gay marriage” as a legal category, but its positive pattern for marriage is always heterosexual.
  • Endorsing same‑sex marriage is often seen, in these traditions, as endorsing a form of sexual behavior that Scripture consistently treats as sinful.
  • At the same time, they emphasize that forgiveness and welcome are offered to all people in Christ, including those in same‑sex relationships, and call for speaking “the truth in love.”

An example from a popular evangelical resource states that every biblical reference to marriage assumes male–female pairs and that God’s design is heterosexual marriage, so same‑sex marriage is viewed as breaking that model.

Other Christian Perspectives and Ongoing Debate

Not all Christians apply the Bible to same‑sex marriage in the same way:

  • Some scholars and churches argue that the Bible’s ancient texts did not envision loving, mutual, lifelong same‑sex unions and that the core biblical values of covenant love, justice, and faithfulness can support affirming same‑sex marriage today.
  • They often point out that Scripture is a complex, historically situated collection and that Christians already discern which Old Testament laws are still binding (for example, many do not follow other Levitical bans on clothing or food).
  • Because of this, they claim the Bible is not “decisive” in a simple, rule‑like way against civil same‑sex marriage, and that Christian ethics must also consider context, science, and pastoral care.

Writers in this camp emphasize God’s inclusive love and the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ people within Christian communities, even while they may interpret specific texts differently from traditionalists.

How This Connects to Today’s Debates

In current public and church debates:

  • Many “no” voices on marriage equality appeal directly to the creation pattern in Genesis and to Jesus’s words on marriage to argue that Scripture rules out same‑sex marriage for Christians.
  • Many “yes” voices argue that biblical values (love of neighbor, justice, mercy) can support equal marriage laws, and that appeals to certain biblical texts can be selective or inconsistent if other cultural commands are not also enforced.

So, when you ask “what does the Bible say about same sex marriage,” the mainstream traditional answer is: the Bible positively defines marriage as male–female and treats same‑sex sex as outside God’s design, so it does not endorse same‑sex marriage. Other Christians, however, believe faithfulness to the Bible’s overall message can allow or even support affirming same‑sex marriage today.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.