Bible Verses for Your Wedding - Part I
by Deborah Spence
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?
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.
© 2000, 2001, Deborah Spence and
GlassyLady.com
.
This article is offered to you free of charge, and you have permission
to print it out to aid you in your ceremony preparations. Reproducing
and selling this article for profit, however, is a copyright
infringement and is not allowed.
About the Author
Deborah Spence holds a Master's Degree in Sacred Music and has been
involved with weddings for more than 20 years. As a church music
director, she's been actively associated with the ceremonial side of
weddings in a variety of settings |
