In ancient Israelite society, girls were typically betrothed and married at a young age, often shortly after reaching puberty. The Bible does not provide specific age requirements, but some passages indicate that girls were considered eligible for marriage quite young by today’s standards.
Biblical Examples of Young Brides
There are several examples in the Bible of young girls being given in marriage:
- Isaac married Rebekah when she was very young, possibly in her early teens (Genesis 24:16).
- Dinah, daughter of Jacob, was referred to as a “young girl” when she visited the women of Shechem and was raped (Genesis 34:1-4).
- The wife of Judges 19 is referred to as a “young woman” (Hebrew: naʿărāh). Most scholars believe she was probably in her teens.
- God’s law given to Moses commanded that a man who raped an unmarried virgin must marry her and pay the bride-price because “he has violated her” (Deuteronomy 22:28-29). This indicates that girls were eligible for marriage and the bride-price soon after they reached sexual maturity.
Cultural Factors Related to Early Marriage
There were several cultural factors that contributed to the practice of early marriage for girls in biblical times:
- Early pregnancies were desired to demonstrate fertility and produce heirs to inherit property and carry on the family line.
- Fathers wanted to arrange marriages for daughters at young ages to ensure their virginity and maximize the bride-price.
- Social status and economic stability were provided to a girl through marriage into a respectable household.
- Girls were expected to move from being under a father’s authority to a husband’s authority at the onset of puberty.
- Betrothal and marriage were used to create strategic political and economic alliances between families and tribes.
Typical Age of Marriage
While specific ages are not given, various passages indicate that girls were considered ready for marriage soon after the onset of puberty:
- The Mishnah set the minimum age for marriage at 12 for girls and 13 for boys.
- Marriage was generally expected soon after the age of puberty, which was around 12-13.
- Betrothal often occurred at much younger ages, sometimes even in childhood.
- Consummation of marriage typically occurred after betrothal once the girl reached puberty.
- Within peasant and poorer families, girls tended to marry in their middle to late teens.
- In royal, aristocratic, and priestly families, girls were typically betrothed and married at younger ages, possibly as young as 12 upon reaching puberty.
While some exceptions existed, the standard for most Jewish girls through biblical history was marriage soon after the onset of puberty, which occurred around the ages of 12-13.
Later Rabbinic Perspectives
In the centuries after the close of the biblical period, rabbis discouraged marriage before the age of 12. Some important rabbinic teachings include:
- A girl younger than 12 years and 1 day should not be given in marriage.
- Traditional Jewish law forbids betrothal or marriage before a girl reaches physical maturity.
- Rabbis advised fathers not to betroth daughters before they reached maturity.
- Girls were not considered ready for the responsibilities of marriage until approximately 12 years of age.
These rabbinic teachings discouraged early marriage and reflected an evolving view that matched the later physical and mental development of girls.
Scriptural Guidelines for Early Marriage
Although Scripture allows for marriage soon after puberty, parents were admonished to evaluate their daughters’ emotional, mental, and physical maturity before arranging any betrothal or marriage (Ezekiel 16:8). Other biblical principles include:
- Focus on whether a potential spouse was God-fearing rather than wealth or status (Proverbs 31:10, 1 Peter 3:1-6).
- Seek the girl’s consent before betrothal (Genesis 24:57-58).
- Pay the agreed upon bride-price as a sign of commitment (Exodus 22:16-17).
- Provide a period of betrothal before marriage to ensure faithfulness (Deuteronomy 20:7).
- Allow divorce if the husband was physically or emotionally abusive (Exodus 21:10-11).
While certain guidelines existed in Scripture, cultural factors often influenced marriage practices more than biblical principles.
Conclusion
In summary, girls were generally considered eligible for marriage soon after reaching puberty in ancient Israelite society. Betrothal often occurred at younger ages, but consummation waited until signs of maturity were evident. By later biblical times, there was a shift toward delaying marriage and protecting young girls from exploitation. Scripture provides guidelines for early marriage practices but leaves room for discernment based on a girl’s maturity and well-being.