The verse in Genesis 2:24 states “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse comes right after God creates woman from man’s rib and brings her to Adam. It establishes the foundation for marriage laid out at creation – that a man will leave his parents and cleave to his wife, becoming one flesh with her.
There are a few important implications we can draw from this verse:
Leaving Father and Mother
First, “leave his father and mother” implies a severing of dependence on one’s parents to establish a new family unit. In ancient near eastern culture, multigenerational families all lived together. But the marriage covenant required a man to leave the authority of his parents and establish his own family. This “leaving” did not mean abandoning parents or cutting off the relationship. But it did mean forming a distinct marriage relationship in which husband and wife now depended on each other, not parents.
This leaving of parents also implied giving priority to the marriage over other family commitments. Loyalty and obligation shifted from parents to the new covenant partner. This was a countercultural idea in the ancient world. But it established marriage as a new covenant that superseded all others.
Cleaving to His Wife
Second, “cleave to his wife” or “hold fast” implies a strong, personal attachment and permanence of the marital bond. Cleaving together expressed a covenant commitment that joined two people intimately together in a new relationship for life. It conveyed faithfulness, exclusiveness and an unbreakable bond. This cleaving meant Adam was to pursue an intimate soul-tie with Eve, not just a physical joining.
Cleaving implied both a public leaving of parents and a joining to one’s spouse. This cleaving was the basis for the “one flesh” sexual union in marriage. The commitment to cleave or hold fast to a spouse was foundational to becoming one flesh.
Becoming One Flesh
Third, “they shall become one flesh” recognizes the intimacy and permanence of the marriage relationship. One flesh union encompassed sexual union but also included spiritual and emotional oneness. Marital intimacy was intended to bring two separate individuals – male and female – into a mysterious oneness.
This one flesh union was profound and exclusive. It meant Adam and Eve were joining their two lives into one – joining their bodies, hearts, souls and futures into a new shared life and family. They were taking all aspects of their individual identities and merging them into a new, unified existence.
Becoming one flesh implied total commitment, exclusiveness and intimacy in all areas of life – physical, emotional and spiritual. For this reason, this one flesh union was intended to be permanent and unbroken. Divorce later on was described by Jesus as splitting apart what God had joined in one flesh. (Matthew 19:6)
A Covenant Relationship
In summary, Genesis 2:24 establishes marriage as a covenant – an exclusive, permanent bond that brings two individuals into a new legal, social and spiritual reality. They form a new household, bear children and merge their individual futures into one. Leaving parents and cleaving to a spouse in a one flesh union forms an unbreakable covenant relationship, just as God intended it from the beginning.
This foundational verse sets the stage for marriage throughout Scripture. Marriage is referred to as a covenant relationship throughout the Bible. And the New Testament draws heavily on the imagery of Christ as the groom and the church as his pure bride.
So Genesis 2:24 illuminates God’s intentions and purposes for marriage. It provides the framework for seeking to honor God through marriage according to his good design from creation.
1. Marriage Takes Priority Over Other Relationships
Genesis 2:24 teaches that in marriage, your spouse becomes your primary family. The marriage relationship takes priority over other earthly ties, even ties to parents. This means you have to be willing to make your spouse and new family unit your top priority.
This doesn’t mean abandoning parents or severing those ties. But it does require reorienting your allegiances, loyalties and obligations to your new family. Your spouse’s needs and desires take precedence over those of your parents or siblings.
This requires a shift in mindset if you’ve always lived with and depended on your parents. But God designed marriage to be the creation of a new family, distinct from your original one.
Bible Verses:
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” (Ephesians 5:31)
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-5)
2. Your Spouse Becomes Your Closest Confidant
The idea of “cleaving” to your spouse implies forging a strong bond – mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. This means your spouse should become your closest friend and confidant.
You and your spouse are now a team, united in purpose and vision. You no longer make big decisions alone but consult one another. You share dreams, hopes, struggles and secrets with each other, not just with close friends or parents.
Obviously, you will still have other friends. But your friendship with your spouse should be your most intimate and trusting one. You cleave together by being completely open, vulnerable and reliant on each other for love and support.
Bible Verses:
“But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:20-22)
“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
3. Loyalty and Faithfulness Are Essential
Being one flesh emphasizes that marriage is an exclusive covenant. Once married, you pledge faithfulness and loyalty to your spouse alone.
This means refusing any romantic or sexual entanglements with others that could threaten your oneness. You must reserve emotional and physical intimacy only for your marriage partner. The sacred one flesh union is polluted by any breach of loyalty.
Marriage requires sacrificial love that always seeks the other’s good before your own. You demonstrate loyalty by keeping your vows in good times and bad, for better or worse.
Bible Verses:
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” (Hebrews 13:4)
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.” (Exodus 20:17)
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4)
4. Nurture Intimacy in All Areas of Life
Becoming one flesh is not just physical but encompasses union mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This means couples must nurture intimacy and connection in all areas, not just the bedroom.
It means sharing feelings, dreams and fears. It means having shared interests and activities you enjoy. It means praying together and having shared spiritual commitments. The more dimensions in which you can unite, the greater your experience of oneness will be.
Bible Verses:
“May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.” (Proverbs 5:18)
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33)
“Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Corinthians 7:5)
5. Keep Christ Central in Your Marriage
As Christ sacrificially loved the church, husbands are called to love their wives. And wives are called to submit to their husbands’ leadership, just as the church submits to Christ (Ephesians 5:22-29).
Keeping Christ central means building your marriage according to Biblical principles and seeking to honor God in how you treat your spouse. It also means relying on the Holy Spirit’s power to love selflessly and unconditionally.
Ask God to continually renew and revive your marriage. Seek guidance in His Word on how to serve, love and cherish your spouse. Invite God’s presence into your union.
Bible Verses:
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33)
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)
“For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church.” (Ephesians 5:23)
6. Be Willing to Sacrifice for One Another
Scripture calls husbands to be willing even to lay down their lives for their wives, and wives to submit to their husbands in the Lord. This kind of mutual selflessness is countercultural.
But marriage cannot work without regular self-sacrifice. Each spouse must be willing to set aside their own interests at times to serve the other. Whether through acts of service, words of affirmation or simple gestures, we demonstrate Christlike love by sacrificing for each other.
Bible Verses:
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)
“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18)
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)
7. Pursue Unity and Reconciliation
Since marriage joins two sinners together, conflict will happen. When it does, pursue unity and restoration with humility, honesty and forgiveness.
Don’t let anger or pride fester and poison your oneness. Seek help from wise counsel if needed. But importantly, model the forgiveness you’ve been given in Christ. Let your common ground in the gospel bring you back together.
Bible Verses:
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)
8. Keep Sex Holy and Honorable
Sexual intimacy is a gift God only sanctions within marriage between husband and wife. Keeping sex exclusive to your covenant partner is key to honoring God and each other.
See sexual union not just as physical gratification but as a renewing of your vows to become one. When divorced from commitment and love, sex loses meaning and dignity. Cherish it as holy and keep it from being tainted by sin.
Bible Verses:
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:3-5)
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” (Hebrews 13:4)
9. Pursue Oneness with Perseverance
Oneness in marriage is a process that requires perseverance. At times, you’ll feel close and intimate. Other times, distant and disconnected. Don’t give up pursuing deeper unity with your spouse.
Guard your marriage against sin or apathy that could damage your bond. Invest in spending quantity and quality time together. Seek help if you’re struggling relationally. With Christ’s help, choose daily to fight for your marriage.
Bible Verses:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
10. Reflect the Gospel through Your Marriage
In Ephesians 5, Paul compares Christ’s relationship with the church to a husband’s relationship with his wife. He calls marriage a “profound mystery” that reflects the gospel itself.
Consider how your marriage can reflect Christ’s sacrificial love and the church’s submission to Him. Represent the gospel story well by cherishing, loving and serving one another daily. Make your marriage point to the greater marriage between Christ and his bride.
Bible Verses:
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” (Ephesians 5:22-24)
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
“This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:32)