What does the Bible teach about interracial marriage? Does the Bible allow or forbid it? The Old Testament forbade interracial marriage for a good reason, but now, after the New Testament, there is now no prohibition against interracial message.
The Old Testament and Interracial Marriage
There was a prohibition against interracial marriage in the Old Testament.
3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.
Deuteronomy 7:3-4
The reason for prohibiting interracial marriage in the Old Testament was legitimate because it was important for the nation of Israel to remain pure as God’s chosen people. God had promised that the Messiah, Jesus, would come from the Israelite people.
The nation of Israel was unique as God’s chosen people, while other nations worshipped other gods. Because of this, interracial marriage would have turned the hearts of the Israelites away from God.
Malachi 2:11 tells us that this is exactly what happened when interracial marriage occurred in Israel.
11 Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.
The New Testament and Interracial Marriage
After Jesus was born and God’s chosen people expanded from just the Israelites to the entire world, including the Gentiles, the prohibition against interracial marriage ended.
The new principle concerning marriage is similar in that it is meant to keep God’s chosen people pure. This is what 2 Corinthians 6:14 says:
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Now, Christians are prohibited from marrying anyone who is not also a believer in Jesus.
Also, Romans 10:12 teaches that now, God does not distinguish between people of different ethnicities.
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
