An important aspect of planning your wedding is
selecting Scriptures to be read in the ceremony.
Many clergy encourage couples to look through
the Bible and choose some appropriate verses.
This provides an excellent way for the bride and
groom to personalize their service by choosing
passages that have a special meaning for them
or speak to their particular situation. For many
couples this is both exciting and daunting. After
all, the Bible is a pretty big book! Where to
begin? How to choose? Which to choose?
The decision
Most members of the clergy will not object to
more than one reading during your ceremony.
In fact, many will encourage you to pick as many
as 3 passages. As difficult as it might be for you
to believe, it can be hard to narrow it down.
There are so many from which to choose!
The following list is Part One of a two-part article
and begins with readings from the Old Testament,
also known as the Hebrew Bible. The list comes
as a result of years of working with wedding
couples in Episcopal, Lutheran, Roman Catholic,
Presbyterian, and Christian Science churches and
From my education at both the undergraduate and
graduate levels.
Direct quotes from the Bible are taken from the King
James Version, which is in the public domain. The
interpretations or paraphrases of these verses are
strictly my own. However, they do reflect mainstream
thought and are non-denominational in perspective.
Part One - Old Testament and Apocrypha
Readings from the Old Testament, also called
The Hebrew Bible, are also most appropriate
for Jewish weddings.
Genesis 1:27-28a, 31a God's good and gracious work
in creating man and woman for each other
Ruth 1:16 The devotion of Ruth to a new family
Song of Solomon 2:10-14, 16a The lover arrives in
Spring to call for his bride
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 A bride beseeches her lover to
be faithful
Isaiah 26:3-4 Trust in God
Isaiah 43:1-7 Our redemption by God, and God's
presence and love in our lives
Isaiah 55:10-13 God's word feeds and nurtures us
Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Our certain salvation and a
new status
Psalm 19 A Psalm praising God as creator
Psalm 34:8 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Vs. 8 is
particularly nice for weddings which include
Holy Communion.
Psalm 98:1a, 4-6 A Psalm of praise
Psalm 100 A Psalm of praise
Psalm 119 The longest in the Bible, the entire Psalm
is a reflection on God's laws, with verses 1-16
reflecting on walking always in God's way.
Psalm 127 A home built by God
Psalm 128 The blessings of lives led by God
Tobit 8:5-9 Tobias and Sarah praise God and
acknowledge Him as the creator who ordained marriage.
Tobias prays for mercy and that God allow him and
Sarah to grow old together. (This is the only verse
from the Apocrypha.)
Part II of "Bible Verses for Your Wedding" will
include suggestions from the Gospels and New
Testament with ideas on how to choose appropriate
passages to make your wedding special.
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