What does the Bible say about interracial marriage?
The Bible never forbids interracial marriage on the basis of skin color or ethnicity. When prohibitions against marriage with certain groups appear in the Old Testament, the motivation is consistently religious, not racial. For example, in Deuteronomy 7:3–4, God commands the Israelites not to marry Canaanites—not because they were of a different ethnicity, but because they worshiped false gods. The concern was covenantal loyalty, not ethnic separation.
One of the clearest examples comes from the life of Moses. In Numbers 12:1, Moses marries a Cushite woman—someone of African descent. When Miriam and Aaron criticize the union, God defends Moses and punishes the dissenters. This passage directly undermines the notion that interracial marriage is somehow against God’s will. The Bible not only permits the union but shows divine displeasure toward those who oppose it on ethnic grounds.
The Line of Christ Includes Interracial Marriages
The genealogy of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 1, includes several non-Israelite women who became part of God's redemptive story. Ruth, a Moabite, is perhaps the most famous. She not only married an Israelite but became the great-grandmother of King David. Rahab, a Canaanite, was a prostitute in Jericho who converted to the worship of Yahweh and likewise joined Israel’s story. These women were not just permitted—they were honored as part of the Messiah’s lineage.
This demonstrates a biblical principle: the issue was never about ethnic or national boundaries, but about loyalty to the covenant and to the one true God. In each case, these women were welcomed not because of their race but because of their faith. The Bible affirms that those who turn to the Lord—regardless of origin—are fully accepted into his people, including through interracial marriage.
Religious Unity Matters More Than Ethnic Uniformity
A core concern of both Old and New Testament teaching is unity in faith. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul writes, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” This is not a statement about interracial marriage, but about being joined with someone who does not share allegiance to Christ. What the Bible consistently prohibits is spiritual disunity, not interracial relationships.
Galatians 3:28 reinforces this truth: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In the Gospel, all ethnic, social, and gender distinctions are secondary to our shared identity in Christ. The church is a new humanity made up of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Revelation 7:9). Interracial marriage between two believers is a visible expression of that unity.
Jesus and the Inclusion of the Nations
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus interacts freely and compassionately with people of different ethnic backgrounds. He heals the servant of a Roman centurion, converses with a Samaritan woman, and commends the faith of a Syrophoenician woman. Far from reinforcing ethnic boundaries, Jesus breaks them down. His actions preview the church’s global mission and multicultural nature.
In Matthew 28:19, the Great Commission commands disciples to go and make disciples “of all nations.” This vision reaches its fulfillment in Revelation, where every tribe and tongue worships the Lamb. The Bible reveals a God who delights in diversity, not uniformity. Interracial marriage is not only permitted in this vision—it is a natural expression of it.
A Misuse of Scripture: Historical Errors in Interpreting Interracial Marriage
Some have historically used the Bible to argue against interracial marriage, claiming that God's desire was to keep nations distinct. These interpretations typically misuse passages meant to guard against idolatry, not diversity. They confuse God's covenantal concern for holiness with human notions of racial purity.
It's important to remember that even in Israel’s history, the lines were not as rigid as some assume. Converts from outside Israel could become full participants in the covenant community. Ruth says to Naomi, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). This spiritual allegiance is the defining mark of inclusion, not biological descent.
The Gospel’s Bigger Vision for Marriage and the Nations
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible presents a unified vision: God is forming one people for himself through Christ. He began with Abraham and promised that through him “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). That blessing is realized in Christ, who reconciles Jew and Gentile into one body (Ephesians 2:14–15).
Marriage is a reflection of Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:25–32). Therefore, what matters most in marriage is mutual faith, love, and submission to Christ—not skin color or ethnicity. Interracial marriage between two believers is not only biblically permitted—it is Gospel-honoring. It testifies to the reconciling power of the cross and the global scope of God’s Kingdom.
Conclusion: What the Bible Says About Interracial Marriage
The Bible affirms the dignity and equality of all people as image-bearers of God. It does not forbid interracial marriage; instead, it warns against spiritual division. God's people are defined by faith, not by ethnicity. From Moses and his Cushite wife to the multicultural makeup of the early church, Scripture paints a consistent picture: faith in the one true God is what matters most.
In the church, there is no longer Jew or Gentile, Black or White, but all are one in Christ Jesus. Interracial marriage, when rooted in shared faith, love, and devotion to Christ, is not just acceptable—it is a beautiful expression of the Gospel's power to unite what the world would divide.
Bible verses about interracial marriage:
Numbers 12:1-2, “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?’ And the Lord heard it.”
Deuteronomy 7:3-4, “You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods.”
Ruth 1:16, “But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go... your people shall be my people, and your God my God.’”
Ruth 4:13, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.”
Matthew 1:5-6, “...and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.”
Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Acts 10:34-35, “So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.’”
Ephesians 2:14, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.”
Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
Malachi 2:10, “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
