Does the Bible say anything about interracial marriage?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Both the Bible and science concur: there is no such thing as interracial marriage. The subdivisions of mankind that we refer to as "races" do not genetically exist. One race of human beings exists, with ethnic and cultural differences, and biological differences so slight that they cannot be said to represent a different life form. Scripture presents two types of human beings, spiritually: believers and unbelievers. The Bible prohibits believers from marrying unbelievers. But Scripture provides many examples of commendable marriages and children of mixed ethnicity: Caleb’s father, Rahab), Moses' wife and father-in-law, and Ruth, to whom an entire Bible book is dedicated. The New Testament makes it clear that ethnic differences are irrelevant to God, who is the Creator of all (Acts 10:34. God looks at the heart, and so should we (1 Samuel 16:7).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Spiritually, there are two races of humans: Jesus-followers and everyone else; those with a heart of stone, and those with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19).
• God forbade the Israelites from marrying foreigners of a different religion (Deuteronomy 7:3-4; cf 2 Corinthians 6;14). This had nothing to do with ethnicity; it was to avoid Israel being drawn in to serve other gods.
• The Bible highlights with honor many marriages and children of mixed ethnicity. Caleb's father is called a Kenizzite (Numbers 32:12)—descended from one of the nations of Canaan. Rahab was from Jericho (Joshua 2). Moses' wife was a Cushite from Midian (Exodus 2:16-21)—as was her father who served as a counselor for Moses (Exodus 18:17-27). Ruth the Moabitess has an entire book dedicated to her and her faithfulness to her Jewish mother-in-law.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Second Corinthians 6:14 prohibits Christians from marrying non-Christians.
• In the New Testament, Timothy, a leader in the early church, was the son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father.
• Paul wrote to the Galatians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). We are all part of the family of God, so there is no problem with marrying a believer from another ethnicity.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Cultural and racial differences are superficial. People are people no matter where on the globe they come from. Christians from a distant country are part of the same spiritual family as Christians in our home country. We’re human beings, created in God’s image; we just have many different cultural or ethnic practices, traditions and experiences.

That’s why “interracial marriage” isn’t a Christian concern. Although God puts no restrictions on the ethnicity of the person we marry, He does place restrictions on a believer marrying an unbeliever. Marriage is a serious commitment with many considerations, but ethnicity isn’t one of them.

UNDERSTAND

• There is only one human race, spiritually divided into believers and unbelievers.
• Believers should marry fellow believers; ethnicity is not a barrier.
• The Bible affirms mixed-ethnicity marriages and teaches unity in Christ beyond ethnic differences.

REFLECT

• How do your own views on marriage reflect God’s teaching about unity beyond ethnic differences?
• How do you intentionally let spiritual compatibility shape your relationships more than cultural or ethnic backgrounds?
• How can you better honor God’s image in all people, especially when considering relationships and marriage?

ENGAGE

• How does understanding that “race” is not a biblical or scientific division influence our view of marriage and community in the church?
• How can the church better reflect the biblical ideal of unity across ethnic and cultural lines in marriages and fellowship?
• How do biblical examples of mixed-ethnicity marriages challenge or encourage our perspective on God’s plan for relationships today?