Question: Is paying bride price really necessary? Is it a biblical command? If so, to whom did Adam pay bride price in order to receive Eve?
The very first marriage was performed by God Himself in the Garden of Eden. When Adam was in a deep sleep, God created Eve from his side and brought her to him (Genesis 2:21–22, ESV). There was no exchange of bride price, nor were there vows, because Eve had no earthly parents. She came directly from Adam’s body, and their union was established by divine creation.
However, our situation today is different. Our wives are not created directly from us; they are born into families and raised by parents who provide for them at their own expense. Therefore, unlike Adam, we must rightly receive them from their families, acknowledging the role of the parents who nurtured them.
The concept of bride price is not about buying a woman—Scripture is clear that marriage is a covenant, not a commercial transaction. Rather, bride price symbolizes honor and respect to the bride’s family, acknowledging the value of the daughter they raised.
In the Old Testament, the practice of paying a bride price was common. Exodus 22:16–17 (NIV) says:
“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.”
This shows that even in ancient Israel, bride price was tied not to possession, but to respect, responsibility, and covenant.
Similarly, when Abraham’s servant sought a wife for Isaac, he gave costly gifts to Rebekah’s family (Genesis 24:53, KJV):
“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.”
These gifts were not a purchase but a gesture of honor and gratitude, showing the seriousness of the union.
The New Testament also recognizes the concept of betrothal, which was legally binding in Jewish culture. Joseph, before he fully married Mary, is described as her betrothed husband (Luke 2:4–5, NKJV):
“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.”
Betrothal involved formal consent, family recognition, and often included a bride price or dowry, signifying the seriousness of the commitment.
Once the bride price or betrothal step was completed, the next stage was the public acknowledgment of marriage. In the Christian tradition, this is reflected in the wedding ceremony. The bride and groom publicly confess before God, the church, and their community that they have chosen one another in covenant.
Hebrews 13:4 (ESV) reminds us:
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
Bride price, therefore, is one way of upholding marriage “in honor” — it acknowledges the dignity of the woman and the covenant being entered into.
Ultimately, marriage is a reflection of the covenant between Christ and His Church. Just as a bridegroom pays a price to receive his bride, Christ Himself paid the ultimate bride price for us.
Ephesians 5:25 (NIV):
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood and gave His very life to redeem us, His bride, from sin and death. In this, we see the highest form of bride price—not silver, not gold, but His own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18–19).
So then, is bride price necessary? Yes. While it is not a command in the same way as the Ten Commandments, it is a biblical principle that honors families, upholds marriage, and points us to the greater covenant of Christ and His Church.
It is not about buying a woman—it is about recognizing her worth, honoring her parents, and entering into a covenant in a way that reflects the seriousness of marriage.
As Christ paid the greatest price to claim His bride, so too should men today honor the process of marriage, including the giving of bride price, as a sign of love, respect, and covenant faithfulness.
May the Lord bless you as you honor Him in marriage.
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