What Does The Bible Say About Marrying Your Cousin?

Marriage between cousins is a controversial topic and opinions on the matter can vary greatly. Some people may choose to marry their cousin due to cultural or familial reasons, while others may see it as a practical solution to maintaining family ties and assets. In some cultures, it is traditional for cousins to marry in order to keep family land or businesses within the family.

The Bible does not explicitly prohibit marriage between cousins, but it does prohibit sexual relationships between close relatives. For example, Leviticus 18:6-18 lists a number of prohibited relationships, including sexual relations between a man and his sister, half-sister, mother, stepmother, granddaughter, aunt, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, and a number of other close relatives. This passage is part of a broader set of laws that were intended to protect the Israelites from the practices of the pagan nations around them.

However, there are several examples throughout the Bible of marriages between cousins that are not presented in a positive light.

One example is Jacob, who marries Leah and Rachel, who are both his first cousins and daughters of his uncle Laban. Jacob falls in love with Rachel and agrees to work for her father Laban for seven years in order to marry her. However, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Rachel’s older sister Leah instead, and only gives him Rachel as his wife after he works for another seven years. This deception leads to tension and conflict within the family.

Another example is Isaac and his wife Rebekah, who were cousins. Isaac was the son of Abraham, who sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his own people. The servant found Rebekah, who was the daughter of Bethuel, a relative of Abraham. So Isaac married his first cousin Rebekah. Though their marriage was blessed by God and they had twin sons, Esau and Jacob, their relationship was not without difficulties. Esau, the older son, was disinherited by Isaac in favor of Jacob, and the brothers had a contentious relationship throughout the Bible.

It is important to note that these examples in the Bible should not be taken as a blanket condemnation of all marriages between cousins. It is also worth noting that the laws and customs surrounding marriage and family relationships have evolved over time and can vary greatly across cultures and religions.

In modern societies, most countries have laws that regulate marriages between cousins. These laws are based on scientific research which suggests that the risk of genetic defects increases when couples are too closely related. Therefore, many countries have laws that prohibit marriage between first cousins or closer relatives, while others allow it with certain restrictions or under certain conditions.

Inconclusion, there is no specific stance on marrying cousins in the Bible. However, Leviticus 18:6-18 lists a number of forbidden relationships, including marrying a parent, sibling, aunt or uncle, and half-sibling. Cousins are not explicitly included in this list, but are generally believed to be included implicitly. It is important to note that laws regarding cousin marriage vary by country and culture, and some places may additionally have legal restrictions on the practice.