1. Polygynous Marriage

Probably the most common form of marriage in the bible, it is where a man has more than one wife.


2. Levirate Marriage

When a woman was widowed without a son, it became the responsibility of the brother-in-law or a close male relative to take her in and impregnate her. If the resulting child was a son, he would be considered the heir of her late husband. See Ruth, and the story of Onan (Gen. 38:6-10).


3. A man, a woman and her property — a female slave

The famous “handmaiden” sketch, as preformed by Abraham (Gen. 16:1-6) and Jacob (Gen. 30:4-5).


4. A man, one or more wives, and some concubines

The definition of a concubine varies from culture to culture, but they tended to be live-in mistresses. Concubines were tied to their “husband,” but had a lower status than a wife. Their children were not usually heirs, so they were safe outlets for sex without risking the line of succession. To see how badly a concubine could be treated, see the famous story of the Levite and his concubine (Judges 19:1-30).


5. A male soldier and a female prisoner of war

Women could be taken as booty from a successful campaign and forced to become wives or concubines. Deuteronomy 21:11-14 describes the process.


6. A male rapist and his victim

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 describes how an unmarried woman who had been raped must marry her attacker.


7. A male and female slave

A female slave could be married to a male slave without consent, presumably to produce more slaves.

and of course …


8. Monogamous, heterosexual marriage

What you might think of as the standard form of marriage, provided you think of arranged marriages as the standard. Also remember that inter-faith or cross-ethnic marriage were forbidden for large chunks of biblical history.



http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/04/29/the-varieties-of-biblical-marriage/

HEY!

Didn't you get the memo?

Bible thumpers who say the Bible is the word of God don't follow the Bible but instead pick and choose which bits are best tailored to their brand of hate.

Faith equals denying what is true.

so far no word about feminist movement. Does this mean feminists are godless? I am not flippant but seriously asking this

Lol! the bible is one evil book!

OH heck that's nothing start from the beginning. Contradictory if nothing else. I wouldn't call it evil, I would say people used it to get what they wanted from the masses at the time. Interesting that it still holds that power today for some, yet most have never actually read it from cover to cover, and just believe the interpretations from their pastor's / preachers.

Why do straight people try to say marriage in a "traditional institution" when people did not get married for love until a couple hundred years ago? The way people get married now isnt the way people in the past did it.

People saying stuff like that is why Americans ancestors left EnglandGodless English

Good riddance!

And proud

Im just joking around guys

No worries

Im not! Good BLOODY riddance!! haha

Humm why isn't this a political topic?

After all, those who object to gay marriage are always bringing up the Bible and God and all that.

I am confused...should future posts about marriage and the law be placed in the general religion forum?

I wondered that myself.. After all the whole thing with marriage has become political and it would seem to me where it will be fought. It will be generally ignored here, but what do I know..

DAMN!

I wish I would have known that back when I was a Christian and 20 years old!

I could have just grabbed the chick I wanted to marry, raped her, and then taken the Bible with me to court and showed the judge that I'm a man of God and I demand that the women marry me!

Boy did I blow it!

I'm such an IDIOT!

I had it made in the shade as a Christian and I didn't even know it!

You could always become a born again rapist, Abra.

well said mate

Hmmm?

Good point.

I just saw a chick today too that I wouldn't mind taking before the judge.