Bible verses about "courtship" | ASV

¹ And Abraham was old, [and] well stricken in age: and Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things. ² And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: ³ and I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou wilt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: ⁴ but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac. ⁵ And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? ⁶ And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. ⁷ Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spake unto me, and who sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence. ⁸ And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son thither again. ⁹ And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning this matter.
¹⁰ And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, having all goodly things of his master's in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. ¹¹ And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. ¹² And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. ¹³ Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water: ¹⁴ and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. ¹⁶ And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up. ¹⁷ And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher. ¹⁸ And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. ¹⁹ And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. ²⁰ And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels. ²¹ And the man looked stedfastly on her, holding his peace, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not. ²² And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, ²³ and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in? ²⁴ And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bare unto Nahor. ²⁵ She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. ²⁶ And the man bowed his head, and worshipped Jehovah. ²⁷ And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master: as for me, Jehovah hath led me in the way to the house of my master's brethren.
²⁸ And the damsel ran, and told her mother's house according to these words. ²⁹ And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain. ³⁰ And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he was standing by the camels at the fountain. ³¹ And he said, Come in, thou blessed of Jehovah; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. ³² And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him. ³³ And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on. ³⁴ And he said, I am Abraham's servant. ³⁵ And Jehovah hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses. ³⁶ And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. ³⁷ And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: ³⁸ but thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son. ³⁹ And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. ⁴⁰ And he said unto me, Jehovah, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house: ⁴¹ then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath. ⁴² And I came this day unto the fountain, and said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: ⁴³ behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink; ⁴⁴ and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom Jehovah hath appointed for my master's son. ⁴⁵ And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. ⁴⁶ And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. ⁴⁷ And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands. ⁴⁸ And I bowed my head, and worshipped Jehovah, and blessed Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son. ⁴⁹ And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Jehovah: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. ⁵¹ Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as Jehovah hath spoken. ⁵² And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto Jehovah. ⁵³ And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. ⁵⁴ And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. ⁵⁵ And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us [a few] days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. ⁵⁶ And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing Jehovah hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. ⁵⁷ And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. ⁵⁸ And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. ⁵⁹ And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. ⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou [the mother] of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.
⁶¹ And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. ⁶² And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South. ⁶³ And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. ⁶⁴ And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel. ⁶⁵ And she said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master: and she took her veil, and covered herself. ⁶⁶ And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

⁷ And he went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.

⁵ Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart,
And lean not upon thine own understanding: ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he will direct thy paths. ⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes;
Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:

¹ Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,—that ye abound more and more. ² For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; ⁴ that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God; ⁶ that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. ⁸ Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.

¹² Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

²⁴ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

¹ Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. ² Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. ³ But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. ⁵ But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven. ⁶ For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled. ⁷ For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. ⁸ For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man: ⁹ for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man: ¹⁰ for this cause ought the woman to have [a sign of] authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord. ¹² For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God. ¹³ Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled? ¹⁴ Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him? ¹⁵ But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. ¹⁶ But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
¹⁷ But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁹ For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you. ²⁰ When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord's supper: ²¹ for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken. ²² What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this I praise you not. ²³ For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁵ In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me. ²⁶ For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come. ²⁷ Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. ³⁰ For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. ³¹ But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. ³³ Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait one for another. ³⁴ If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.

²² But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

²⁶ For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.

²⁷ Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: ²⁸ but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. ²⁹ And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.

¹ Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

⁹ And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. ¹⁰ And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman. ¹² And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. ¹³ Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as Jehovah liveth: lie down until the morning.

⁵ and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?

² But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

¹⁸ Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

²² Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,
And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

¹ Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ³ Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. ⁴ The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife. ⁵ Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. ⁶ But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. ⁷ Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
⁸ But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. ⁹ But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. ¹⁰ But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband ¹¹ (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife. ¹² But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. ¹³ And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. ¹⁵ Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace. ¹⁶ For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife? ¹⁷ Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰ Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. ²¹ Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather. ²² For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant. ²³ Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
²⁵ Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. ²⁶ I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely], that it is good for a man to be as he is. ²⁷ Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. ²⁸ But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. ²⁹ But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; ³⁰ and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; ³¹ and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away. ³² But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: ³³ but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴ and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. ³⁶ But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry. ³⁷ But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well. ³⁸ So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better. ³⁹ A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

¹² Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.