If you search the Bible for guidance on age differences in romantic relationships or marriage, you won’t find any direct verses addressing the topic. The Bible doesn’t make age a focal point when discussing couples, and in fact, it rarely mentions the specific ages of individuals in relationships at all. When it comes to married couples, the Scripture typically focuses on their faith, character, and obedience to God rather than the number of years between them.
That said, there is one well-known exception—Abraham and Sarah. Their age difference is clearly stated in Genesis 17:17 when God tells Abraham that he and Sarah will have a son. Abraham laughs and says, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” From this, we know Abraham was ten years older than Sarah. While that gap isn’t extreme, it is one of the only instances in the Bible where the ages of both husband and wife are mentioned.
For the rest of the couples in Scripture, we’re left without such details, which tells us something: age differences simply weren’t the focus. Another example people often speculate about is the relationship between Ruth and Boaz. In Ruth 3:10, Boaz responds to Ruth’s request for him to be her kinsman-redeemer by saying, “The Lord bless you, my daughter. You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.” This implies that Ruth could have chosen a younger husband, but instead, she followed Jewish custom and sought the protection of Boaz, who is believed to be older.
Some ancient Jewish texts, like the Mishnah, even suggest that Boaz was 80 years old while Ruth was 40. However, this is based on tradition and not on any concrete biblical evidence, so we can’t say for sure what their age gap really was. Similarly, there is a popular belief that Joseph, Mary’s husband, was significantly older than her. Yet the Bible never gives us Joseph’s age, nor does it say anything that supports the idea of a large age difference between them. The assumption likely comes from church traditions or extra-biblical writings, but it isn’t found in Scripture. The consistent lack of emphasis on age differences in biblical marriages leads us to an important conclusion: God does not seem to place much importance on how many years separate a couple in age. What matters far more in a relationship is spiritual alignment, maturity, and compatibility.
Yes, age can influence a relationship—particularly when one partner is significantly younger and may be in a different stage of life—but as time goes on, those differences often become less relevant. Society might raise eyebrows at a 40-year-old marrying an 18-year-old, and understandably so, but few people question an 82-year-old marrying a 60-year-old. Maturity, intentions, and shared values often outweigh numbers. What the Bible does make very clear is that marriage should be between a man and a woman, as outlined in Genesis 2:21–25. It also emphasizes that believers should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, which means Christians are called to marry other believers (2 Corinthians 6:14). These spiritual guidelines matter more than the birth dates on someone’s driver’s license. Additionally, our reasons for getting married should be rooted in love, commitment, and shared purpose—not driven by lust, greed, or superficial desires. As long as these foundational principles are respected, Scripture gives people a great deal of freedom when choosing a spouse. Age differences may still be something to consider, especially when the gap is wide, and it’s wise to seek God’s guidance when making such a decision. James 1:5 encourages believers to ask for wisdom, and this certainly applies to the choice of a lifelong partner. But nowhere does the Bible treat age differences as sinful or spiritually wrong. In the end, God cares more about the heart, the intentions, and the spiritual health of a relationship than the age gap between two people.
