For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.
- KJV Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
- NKJV Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
- NASB For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
- NLT This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Marriage is defined as a man and woman leaving, joining, and becoming one flesh. This verse establishes the lasting pattern for marriage.
Overview
Drawing a conclusion from the creation of the woman, the text sets forth the enduring design of marriage: a man leaves his parents, is joined to his wife, and the two become one flesh. Jesus cites this verse to affirm the permanence of marriage and the union of one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6). Paul also sees in 'one flesh' a profound picture of Christ's union with the church (Ephesians 5:31-32).
Cross-references & the web
Theme
- Marriage & Family"They shall become one flesh."
Cross-references · 20
- Matt 19:3–9Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
- Eph 5:28–31In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
- Mark 10:6–12However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’
- Rom 7:2For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.
- 1 Pet 3:1–7Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
- 1 Cor 6:16–17Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
- 1 Cor 7:2–4But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
- Prov 31:10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
- Mal 2:14–16Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
- 1 Cor 7:10–11To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
- Prov 12:4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
- Lev 22:12–13If the priest’s daughter is married to a man other than a priest, she is not to eat of the sacred contributions.
- Ps 45:10Listen, O daughter! Consider and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house,
- 1 Tim 5:14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
- Gen 24:58–59They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
- Deut 4:4But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive to this day, every one of you.
- Deut 10:20You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.
- Josh 23:8Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
- Gen 31:14–15And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?
- Acts 11:23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Lay
The single best free starting point for Genesis 1–11 — clear, visual, and faithful to the literary design.
Pastoral
The beloved devotional-pastoral classic, free and public domain — warm, quotable, verse by verse.
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 2:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.