Biblical Guidance for Remarriage After Spousal Death
Biblical texts indicate that remarriage after the death of a spouse is permissible and, in some cases, even encouraged. The institution of marriage itself dates back to creation, establishing a foundational unity between a man and a woman [4, 5]. This bond is understood to be for life, with death being the primary means by which it is annulled [7, 10].
The Apostle Paul directly addresses this in 1 Corinthians 7:39, stating, "A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord" [1]. Matthew Henry interprets this passage to mean that "death only can annul the bond" of marriage, and that "second marriages are not unlawful" [7]. John Gill similarly notes that the marriage bond is dissolved by death, freeing the surviving spouse [10].
This principle is also illustrated metaphorically in Romans 7:4, which uses the analogy of a woman freed from the law of her husband upon his death to explain believers' freedom from the Mosaic Law through Christ [3]. Adam Clarke explains this analogy, stating that just as a woman whose husband has died is "freed from the law of that husband," so too are believers freed from the old law [11].
While remarriage is permitted, there are instances in scripture where it is specifically advised. In 1 Timothy 5:14, Paul advises younger widows to remarry, "bear children, guide the house, give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully" [8]. This counsel is given to prevent idleness and temptation among younger widows [8]. Tyndale House notes that Paul is advising younger widows to remarry, specifically to believers [9]. The circumstances in 1 Timothy differ from those in 1 Corinthians 7, where Paul suggests that remaining unmarried might be preferable due to "present distress" [8].
The Old Testament also contains provisions related to marriage after a spouse's death, particularly the levirate marriage law in Deuteronomy 25:5. This law stipulated that if a man died without children, his brother was to marry the widow to raise up offspring for the deceased brother [6]. Matthew Henry explains that this ancient usage aimed to maintain distinct family lines [6]. While this specific practice is not continued in the New Testament, it demonstrates a historical precedent within biblical law for remarriage after spousal death.
The Sadducees' question to Jesus in Mark 12:23 about a woman who had seven husbands, asking whose wife she would be in the resurrection, highlights the understanding that marriage is a temporal institution, pertaining to this life [2]. Jesus' response indicates that in the resurrection, people "neither marry, nor are given in marriage," implying that the marital bond as understood on earth does not continue in the same way in the afterlife [2]. This further supports the idea that earthly marriage bonds are dissolved by death, allowing for remarriage.
Sources
- 1 Corinthians “A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord. -- 1 Corinthians 7:39”
- Mark “In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.” -- Mark 12:23”
- King James Version “[KJV] Romans 7:4 — Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosa”
- Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 25:5: Here is, I. The law settled concerning the marrying of the brother's widow. It appears from the story of Judah's family that this had been an ancient usage (Gen 38:8), for the keeping up of distinct families. The case put is a case that often happens, of a man's dying without issue, it may be in the prime of his time, soon after his marriage, and while his brethren were yet so young as to be unmarried. Now in this case, 1. The widow was not to marry again into any other family, unless all the relations of her husband did refuse her, that the estate she was en”
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 7:39: The whole is here closed up with advice to widows: As long as the husband liveth the wife is bound by the law, confined to one husband, and bound to continue and cohabit with him. Note, The marriage - contract is for life; death only can annul the bond. But, the husband being dead, she is at liberty to marry whom she will. There is no limitation by God's law to be married only for such a number of times. It is certain, from this passage, that second marriages are not unlawful; for then the widow could not be at liberty to marry whom she pleased, nor to marr”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 5:14: younger women--rather, as ellipsis ought to be supplied, "the younger widows," namely younger widows in general, as distinguished from the older widows taken on the roll of presbyteresses (Ti1 5:9). The "therefore" means seeing that young widows are exposed to such temptations, "I will," or "desire," &c. (Ti1 5:11-13). The precept here that they should marry again is not inconsistent with Co1 7:40; for the circumstances of the two cases were distinct (compare Co1 7:26). Here remarriage is recommended as an antidote to sexual passion, idleness, and t”
- 1 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Timothy 5:14: 5:14 Paul is advising younger widows to remarry—and to marry believers (5:11-12; cp. 2:15). • not . . . say anything against them: Their actions were hurting their testimony for the Good News (see 1 Thes 4:11-12; Titus 2:8).”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:39: The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth,.... That is, she is bound to her husband, by the law of marriage, during his life; nor can the bond of marriage between them be dissolved but by the death of one of them, except in the cases of adultery, and wilful desertion, see Rom 7:2. But if her husband be dead; or "asleep", for so the word may be rendered; though it designs death: death is often expressed by sleeping in Scripture; for the dead will not always remain in such a state, but be raised from thence at the last day, just as persons are ”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 7:4: Wherefore, my brethren - This is a parallel case. You were once under the law of Moses, and were bound by its injunctions; but now ye are become dead to that law - a modest, inoffensive mode of speech, for, The law, which was once your husband, is dead; God has determined that it shall be no longer in force; so that now, as a woman whose husband is dead is freed from the law of that husband, or from her conjugal vow, and may legally be married to another, so God, who gave the law under which ye have hitherto lived, designed that it should be in force only till the ad”