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Singles in the Bible

No, everyone in the Bible was not married! :) Even if tradition seems to say otherwise, G-d honors singles, for a time, for a season, for His purposes.

Some of our heroes and family in the Bible were definitely single.

Some were possibly single.

Some remained single for longer than they planned, yet G-d remains the King of the Universe and in control. All of the following who consented to being directed by Him and following His plan had some surprises along the way, but they wouldn't trade what He gave them for anything else.

Consider the following and be encouraged.

Moses was a single for more than 40 years.

Isaac was also a forty-something when G-d brought him his wife.

Joseph lived years and years as a faithful, pure single.

Jeremiah was widowed and suddenly single.

Stephen, Yeshua's witness, was possibly a single.

Ruth was widowed, Gentile, and single by G-d's plan, loving and caring for her Jewish mother-in-law

Boaz was unmarried and older, by G-d's plan, full of a heart of mercy.

Esther was single until a particular time and place. I'm sure her plans for her life did not include marrying a Gentile king. But she was a woman who knew how to pray and trust and listen to her uncle, a godly man.

Hagar was a divorced single mother. Her experience was, "You are the G-d who sees me."

Elisha in 1 Kings 19:20-21 said, "Let me kiss my mother and father goodbye....Then he set out to follow Elijah and become his attendant." Here is a godly single man who values the treasure the L-rd was offering to him.

The single mom/widow whose two boys were to be sold to pay debts (2nd Kings 4:7)

The young woman from Israel who served Naaman's wife..."If only my master would see that prophet who is in Samaria..." spreading the knowledge of the One True G-d

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah-- single young Jewish men transported from Israel who resolved not to defile themselves with the things Babylonian culture offered

Miriam-- apparently a widow-- Yeshua's mother with Him at the tree

Yochanan the Immerser ? a voice, calling in the wilderness

Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:36) who was widowed after seven years and then was single into her 80's, worshipping day and night

Mary Magdalene, a single woman who followed Yeshua into a life of purity and blessing

Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, John 11, 12. Apparently a family living together, but no other family members are mentioned

Timothy? He was single at least for a long season, busy helping Rav Shaul.

Lydia in Acts 16.. the seller of purple, the business woman

Rav Shaul/ Paul (Acts 28, 1 Corinthians 7:7). "Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of G-d and taught about the L-rd Yeshua the Messiah."

Yochanan, the disciple Yeshua loved... separated from his family, banished to live alone on Patmos, but listening to Yeshua

Yeshua, the Messiah-- a Messianic single during His time on earth.

Add to these the faithful singles who trusted in G-d that we know of in history... and the faithful singles who are trusting in G-d in your synagogue.

Some of us are looking for or waiting our "bashert"-- for the spouse we are trusting G-d for. Others of us are content as singles. All of us want G-d's best for our lives, to fit in with His plans. We know that His ways are perfect, that His eyes are on us, His ears are open to our cry. "For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne from which G-d gives graces, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need." (CJB Messianic Jews 4:15)

"All of these [heroes in trusting G-d] had their merit attested because of their trusting....So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment-- that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement-- and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua...." (Messianic Jews 11:39, 12:1)

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Last update: 07/17/2005