What does the Bible say about the marriage where the man is younger than the woman?

I will answer the following question in this article:

We read your articles from the site Moldova Creștină very attentively. We want to thank you for biblical answers, that are very actual. We are glad we can ask you a question, that worries us, knowing that it will be answered: “What does the Bible say about the marriage where man is younger than the woman? (the difference is approximatively 7–12 years)”.

God didn’t let a commandment in the Bible regarding the age difference between a man and a woman in marriage

Most people consider that it is normal for a husband to be older than the wife, or at least to be the same age. As I have heard, people motivate that an older wife may not be subject to her husband and disconsider his authority continually. I personally don’t think this is true. A godly woman will be subject to her husband no matter what his age is, but those who are unsubmissive will not pay attention to their husband’s age. This is a treat of character and it can not be solved by the age difference, but it is an attitude taken in one’s heart.

I don’t know any biblical passage that gives some advice concerning the age difference between a man and a woman.

The Bible relates the age difference between Abraham and Sarah

The father of believers, Abraham, received a promise from God that a child would be born to him, even if his wife was sterile. When God repeated His promise once again…

Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” (Genesis 17:17)(NASB)

We can see from this passage that Abraham was 10 years older than his wife, Sarah. But respect and love they have one for another were the most important in their relation. This attitude of Sarah is given as an example for wives on the pages of the New Testament, when it says:

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. (1 Peter 3:1–6)(NASB)

Respecting the roles set by God is more important than the age difference in a marriage

Nowadays, some men like to marry women that will feed them, wash and care about them as a mother does, and they don’t assume any responsibility to provide, to protect and to fulfill the needs of the wife and of the children. And this happens no matter what the age difference between spouses is. It is dangerous to marry a man or a woman that doesn’t realize and is not ready to fulfill the role set by God for marriage.

The conclusion is that treats of character of a person you want to enter the covenant of marriage is more important than the age difference.

I have read an interesting case about a big age difference between a husband and a wife. You can read it and draw your own conclusions.

Translated by Felicia Djugostran