What Does the Bible Say About Interracial Marriage?
1) Direct answer
The Bible does not forbid interracial marriage. Scripture draws the line at faith, not skin color: a believer is to marry “in the Lord.”
2) Scriptural explanation
- One human family: “He hath made of one blood all nations of men” (Acts 17:26). God made us one race of mankind.
- God’s concern in marriage is faith: “Only in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:39). “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
- When Israel was told not to marry certain nations (Deuteronomy 7:3–4), the reason is given: “for they will turn away thy son from following Me.” It was about idolatry, not color.
- God approved unions across national lines when faith was right: Boaz married Ruth the Moabitess, and she stood in the lineage of David and of Christ (Ruth 4; Matthew 1:5). Rahab of Jericho was received by faith and joined Israel’s line (Joshua 6; Matthew 1:5).
- When Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses “because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married,” the Lord rebuked them and vindicated Moses (Numbers 12). God did not condemn Moses for that marriage.
- In Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Greek… for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). He “hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14).
3) Simple clarifying logic
- You see, God looks at the heart, not the hue. The Bible never says color makes a marriage sinful; it says unbelief does.
- The real danger in Scripture is mixing light and darkness, not nations and nations. Faith unites; unbelief divides.
- So the command is simple: marry a believer, walk in righteousness, and keep Christ at the center.
4) Reinforcing statement
Now notice, if someone says interracial marriage is sin, ask for the verse. The Bible doesn’t give it. It calls for a clean life, a believing union, and a home built on the Word.