Then Isaac Brought Her Into His Mother Sarah's Tent; And He Took Rebekah And She Became His Wife
Marriage Vows, Adultery, & Sexual Immorality
GENESIS 24:67
“Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
”Genesis 24:67 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.24.67.NKJ
Many Christians look upon couples who didn’t marry, but chose to live together as sinful. But, is a public ceremony necessary, and what is seen as sexual immorality and adultery?
In Old Testament times people lived under the Law. Abraham had sexual relations with his maid, Hager (GENESIS 16:4). There was no marriage ceremony or vows, but he was not accused of adultery, nor sexual immorality.
David had eight named wives and more, but did not commit adultery until had sexual relations with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:4) and he and his family was punished for it (Samuel 12:10-24).
King Solomon had seven hundred wives, three hundred concubines and had sexual relations, it seems, with them all, yet he did not commit adultery, nor was he accused of sexual immorality.
The Torah does not explicitly forbid men from taking multiple wives (polygyny).
Under biblical law, polygamy was legally allowed and practiced by several prominent biblical figures, including Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon.
Yet, today, believers are no longer “under the Law”, yet, accused simply because although they are committed to one spouse and remain loyal, they didn’t have a public marriage ceremony.
Paul tells us, “Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.”
I Corinthians 7:2 NKJV
In Old Testament times, a man owned his wife, so there are different rules for women under the Law.
While Paul stated in the New Testament times “let each man have his own wife, we have to ask, “at least one”, or “only one”? If we take that question to the Tora, it would be easy to conclude for men “at least one.”
I’m not saying men today should have multiple wives, but we shouldn’t be over religious about how we judge what others do in their personal relationships (Mathew 7:1-2).
Genesis 24:67 marks the conclusion of the story of Isaac and Rebekah's marriage, stating: "Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Bringing Rebekah into Sarah's tent is more than a domestic act; it was marriage without a public ceremony, which symbolically installed Rebekah as the new matriarch of Abraham’s household, filling the leadership and relational vacancy left by Sarah's passing.
Isaac had been deeply mourning the death of his mother (recorded in Genesis 23). Rebekah's arrival and their subsequent companionship brought him rather than accusations, profound emotional healing.
The text notes that Isaac took Rebekah as his wife "and he loved her," illustrating a relationship where deep affection and commitment grew and flourished within the marriage.
This verse highlights the successful fulfillment of Abraham’s servant's mission, showing how faith and divine guidance led to a purposeful and comforting outcome for the covenant family.
Notice, the Bible does not record a public marriage ceremony or large wedding feast when Isaac took Rebekah to be his wife.
According to Genesis 24:67, the transition into marriage was a private and personal event- Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife, and he loved her.
This was a formal agreement and betrothal had already taken place back in Rebekah's hometown, where her family consented to the marriage and Abraham's servant gave gifts.
When Rebekah first saw Isaac in the field, she covered herself with a veil as a sign of modesty and respect before her future husband.
Scripture simply notes that Isaac brought her into the tent, and took her as his wife, and was comforted after the death of his mother Sarah. There is no mention of religious rites, vows recited before guests, or a community celebration.
Many Christians are quick to judge couples living together who had not publicly married, but true marriage is in the vows made, rather than a public ceremony. Marriage requires a covenant agreement with one another and constimation, God and a determined couple who have chosen to join their lives together and live out their days as one.
When a couple commits into marriage whether privately or publicly before God, they join thereselves together through sexual relations in a lifetime covenant with one another. When they give their vows to each other and God, their covenant is made with God.
It seems no marriage certificate is necessary, marriage registration is of the world and man made religious rules.
But even without those rules, the marriage vows you make to one another shall stand.
Some believers will be of the opinion that a public ceremony is necessary, others won’t.
Paul tells us, “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.”
Romans 14:14-18 NKJV
Therefore, if you believe that a public wedding ceremony is necessary, for you it is. But for those of you who by faith, don’t, you are blessed.
But I say to you, be wise. As a minister of God, it would not be helpful to live together without first, having a public wedding ceremony.
“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
Romans 14:22-23 NKJV
All glory be to God forever and ever! Amen.
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