"This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one."
Genesis 2:24
ESV - 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
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I would say that the idea expressed in Genesis 2:24 is that marriage between a man and woman creates a union so unique and intimate (especially as represented by the sexual relationship between them) that it makes them "one flesh" in God's eyes (which is reminiscent of the manner in which God had originally created Eve by using a rib that He had removed from Adam). That union is also distinctive in that it supersedes (or should supersede) any other human relationship that either the husband or the wife has (even one as close as the relationship of each with their own parents), which is what the Bible is referring to when it speaks of a man leaving his father and mother and cleaving to his wife. Each spouse becomes the most important person in life to the other.
The marriage of Eve is spoken of in Genesis 2:23-25 where Eve is returned to Adam's side. "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." This marks history's first marriage. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Jesus spoke of cleaving unto a wife in Matthew 19:3-9 and Mark 10:6-12. Paul deals with it in 2 letters to 2 different churches, the church in Corinth and the church in Ephesus: 1 Corinthians 6:16-17 - What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Ephesians 5:28-31 - So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Peter tells of it once: 1 Peter 3:1-7.Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (Verses like 1 Peter 3:1) And remember the OT prophet, Malachi? He says the Lord hates putting away. Malachi 2:14-16 - Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Malachi 2:14 Just remember, cleaving unto a wife is her due benevolence. 1 Corinthians 7:2-4 - Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
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