When people ask what the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible says about interracial marriage, they often expect a verse that clearly forbids it. But as we open the pages of Scripture, we find something very different.
The Bible never condemns marriage between people of different ethnicities. Instead, it teaches us that God looks at the heart, not at the color of our skin.
From Genesis to Revelation, the message is about unity in faith not separation by race. The Bible shows that all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and that in Christ, we are one body.
Let’s walk through what the KJV Bible truly says about marriage, race, and God’s design for love.
Understanding Marriage Through the Lens of Scripture
In the KJV, marriage is described as a sacred covenant, not a cultural contract. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
Notice that the verse does not say, “Marriage is honorable among certain races.” It says “in all.” That means marriage, when done according to God’s principles faith, love, and purity is honorable for everyone.
When God first established marriage in Genesis 2:24, He joined Adam and Eve. The focus was not on nationality or race, but on unity: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
The KJV Bible repeatedly teaches that what matters most in marriage is spiritual unity, not outward differences.
If two people love God and follow His Word, they are united in the most important way through faith.
Old Testament Passages Often Misunderstood
Some people quote Old Testament verses to argue that interracial marriage is wrong. But these verses, when read carefully, are not about race at all.
In Deuteronomy 7:3–4, God commanded Israel:
“Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me.”
At first glance, it may look like God opposed marriages with other nations. But the reason is clearly given spiritual corruption, not racial difference. God wanted His people to remain faithful and not be led into idolatry.
Centuries later, in Ezra 9–10, Israel faced the same problem. Many men had married women from nations that worshiped idols. The concern was spiritual disobedience, not skin color.
It’s important to remember that Moses himself married a woman from another ethnic background Zipporah, a Midianite (Exodus 2:21). Later, when Moses’ siblings criticized him for marrying an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1), God defended him and punished them for their prejudice.
That story reveals something profound: God does not tolerate racism or pride in His people.
He honors faith and obedience, not ethnicity or appearance.
(See also: Unequally Yoked in the Bible, Faith and Culture in Scripture.)
Jesus and the Breaking of Cultural Barriers
When Jesus walked the earth, He often crossed cultural and ethnic lines that others avoided. One of the clearest examples is His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4).
Jews and Samaritans had deep racial and religious tensions. Yet Jesus spoke to her with compassion, revealing that He was the Messiah and offering her “living water.”
This was not just a personal moment it was a message. Jesus showed that God’s love reaches beyond race, culture, and prejudice.
He told her in John 4:23–24, “The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”
Jesus also used the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) to illustrate that love for one another is not limited by ethnic background.
In every story, Jesus broke down walls that people had built between races and nations. His ministry was not for one group it was for all who believe.
(See also: Where the Bible Talks About Love Everyone.)
New Testament Teaching: One Body in Christ
The New Testament makes God’s heart unmistakably clear: in Christ, racial divisions no longer define us.
Galatians 3:28 (KJV) says,
“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.”
That verse alone removes every argument against interracial marriage between believers. Faith in Christ unites us far more deeply than skin color could ever divide us.
In Acts 10:34–35, Peter declares, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
When God looks at a couple, He doesn’t see “mixed races” He sees hearts joined in faith, walking together in love.
As long as both share a commitment to Christ, their marriage honors God.
(See also: Unity in the Body of Christ and God’s Equality in Scripture.)
Paul’s Perspective on Faith Before Culture
Paul’s teachings add another layer to this truth. He never said that marriage between races was wrong. Instead, he warned believers not to be unequally yoked meaning not to marry someone who does not share your faith.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV) says,
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
This isn’t about ethnicity or nationality. It’s about belief and values.
A Christian marriage built on two different faiths often struggles because spiritual unity is missing. But if both husband and wife follow Christ, their union stands strong regardless of race.
Paul’s focus was always on the heart. He cared that both partners walk in righteousness and serve the same Lord.
Historical View and Modern Grace
Throughout history, people have sometimes twisted Scripture to justify racism or segregation. Verses were taken out of context, and the love of God was overshadowed by fear and pride.
But the message of Jesus always pointed in the opposite direction toward inclusion, compassion, and equality.
When we look honestly at the KJV Bible, we see that it celebrates diversity under one Creator.
From Ruth the Moabite, who became part of Israel and the lineage of Jesus, to the mixed crowd at Pentecost in Acts 2, the Bible tells a story of God uniting people from every nation under His grace.
In our time, it’s a reminder that love should never be judged by color, but by commitment, faith, and obedience to God.
What This Teaches Us About God’s Love and Unity
The KJV Bible paints a powerful picture: God created one human family, diverse in color but equal in worth.
Interracial marriage is not forbidden it’s embraced within the larger truth that God’s love transcends every boundary.
When two believers come together in marriage, they mirror the union between Christ and His Church a relationship defined by love, sacrifice, and unity, not by outward appearance.
Ephesians 5:25 captures it beautifully:
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
That’s the model for every marriage. Whether black or white, Asian or Hispanic, when love is rooted in Christ, it becomes holy and honorable before God.
So, if you ever wonder what the KJV Bible says about interracial marriage, the answer is simple: God blesses marriages built on faith and love.
He calls us to look beyond race and see the beauty of His image in every person.
Reflection
In the end, the message of Scripture is not about separation but reconciliation.
Not about fear, but about faith.
Not about race, but about grace.
When Christ is at the center, love knows no boundaries.
