Breaking the Myth: The Bible Doesn’t Forbid Interracial Marriage
Matthew BellShare
For generations, the topic of interracial marriage has stirred debate—even within Christian communities. Sadly, some have used the Bible to justify their personal biases and cultural preferences, claiming that God is against people of different races marrying. But when we study the Word of God honestly and in context, it becomes clear that God is not concerned with race—He is concerned with faith and the condition of the heart.
The Bible does not condemn interracial marriage. In fact, it shows us examples where people of different ethnic backgrounds united under God’s plan. What God truly desires is not racial uniformity but spiritual unity in Him.
Let’s break down what Scripture says, using the King James Version (KJV), and expose the truth about interracial marriage in the eyes of God.
We Are All One Blood in Christ
One of the clearest declarations about humanity comes from Acts 17:26 (KJV):
“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth…”
This verse tells us that all human beings are of one blood—meaning we all come from the same origin: Adam and Eve. In God’s eyes, there is no hierarchy of races. Every human soul is equal in value and dignity. The division of people into races is a man-made concept; God made nations, not races, and He sees the heart, not skin color.
God Looks at the Heart, Not Outward Appearance
In 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV), God reminds the prophet Samuel of an important truth:
“...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
While humans are often preoccupied with appearance—including ethnicity and race—God focuses on the character and faith of a person. If God doesn’t judge by appearance, neither should we. Interracial marriage is only an issue to people who look with human eyes, not through the lens of God's Word.
Misused Old Testament Verses Aren’t About Race
Some people point to the Old Testament, where God commanded the Israelites not to marry people from surrounding nations. However, those instructions were not about race—they were about idolatry and spiritual corruption.
Look at Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (KJV):
“Neither shalt thou make marriages with them… For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods…”
God’s concern was clear: foreign nations worshipped false gods. The prohibition had nothing to do with race, and everything to do with protecting the faith and purity of Israel’s relationship with Him. It was spiritual, not ethnic.
Today, under the New Covenant, God still desires believers to marry other believers (2 Corinthians 6:14), but that instruction has nothing to do with race—only spiritual unity in Christ.
Moses Married a Woman of Another Ethnicity—And God Defended Him
One of the most powerful examples of interracial marriage in the Bible is that of Moses and Zipporah, a Midianite woman.
Later in Numbers 12:1 (KJV), Moses also marries an Ethiopian (Cushite) woman, and his siblings Miriam and Aaron criticize him for it:
“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.”
But what does God do? He rebukes them and punishes Miriam with leprosy (Numbers 12:9-10). This shows God’s disapproval of their prejudice—not Moses' marriage. If God opposed interracial marriage, He wouldn’t have defended Moses so strongly.
In Christ, All Are One
The gospel tears down every dividing wall between cultures, races, and ethnicities. In Galatians 3:28 (KJV), Paul writes:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
When two people are both in Christ, there is no spiritual barrier between them. Interracial marriage between two believers is perfectly acceptable in God’s eyes. The only thing that matters is that they are united in faith and love.
Final Thoughts: God Values Unity, Not Uniformity
God is the Creator of every nation, language, and skin tone. He celebrates diversity. The Bible never forbids interracial marriage—in fact, it honors relationships built on faith, love, and obedience.
If you’re considering or are already in an interracial marriage, know this: you are not in sin, and you are not wrong in God’s eyes. What matters to Him is that you love Him and walk in obedience to His Word.
All Scripture in this article is quoted from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.
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