Ask a Pastor Column

Q: Starting with Adam and Eve, did people marry their siblings in the Old Testament? If so, why?

A: This is a question that I have often been asked. First let me say the historical account of Genesis does not explain where Cain got his wife, or why individuals like Abraham married close relatives (Abraham married his half-sister, Sarah), or whether it was permissible for them to do so. In short, the Bible does not directly answer this question.

Because the authoritative word of God is silent on the subject we are free to come up with a best-guess by drawing from scientific research and sanctified common sense. Genesis 5:4 tells us that Adam had other sons and daughters besides Cain, Abel and Seth; it would be reasonable to assume that Cain and Seth took wives from this group, which would be their sisters. Some scientists who believe the Bible have suggested that the near-perfect condition of the human genome at that point in history may have prevented the harmful health conditions that result from more modern marriages between near relatives. This may be why we only see marriages between near relatives in the book of Genesis (as far as I know), and why incest was later forbidden by the Law of Moses in 1500 B.C. (Leviticus 18:6). There may be a better answer than this, however, we may have to wait until we get to heaven before we can know for sure.

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