If you were to look through the Bible in search of a verse that directly addresses age differences in relationships, you’d come up empty. The Bible doesn’t mention age gaps between couples as a topic of concern, and in fact, it rarely gives us the ages of individuals in relationships at all. In nearly every biblical marriage, the age of either the husband or the wife—let alone both—is simply not provided. The one notable exception to this is Abraham and Sarah.
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 passage, we learn that Abraham was ten years older than Sarah. While a ten-year gap is not extraordinarily large, it’s significant enough to be noted, and it stands as the only biblical example where the age difference between a husband and wife is clearly stated. Beyond Abraham and Sarah, the Bible remains silent on age in romantic relationships, which is meaningful in itself.
If age gaps were a major moral or spiritual issue, we’d expect to see more direct guidance on the matter. Another commonly referenced couple in discussions about age differences is Ruth and Boaz. Though the Bible doesn’t explicitly state how old either of them was, Ruth 3:10 gives us a clue. When Ruth approaches Boaz and asks him to be her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz responds, “The Lord bless you, my daughter. This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.” The wording implies that Boaz was older than Ruth and possibly by a noticeable amount.
Some Jewish commentaries, like the Mishnah, go so far as to suggest that Boaz was 80 and Ruth was 40, though that interpretation isn’t supported by Scripture itself. It’s speculation based on tradition, not fact. Likewise, there’s a widespread belief that Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was significantly older than Mary. However, the Bible provides no details about Joseph’s age. The idea that he was much older stems from later traditions and apocryphal writings, not from the actual text of the Bible. Since Scripture doesn’t tell us his age or suggest a large age gap between him and Mary, any such claims should be seen as assumptions, not biblical truth.
Given how little attention the Bible gives to age differences, it’s fair to conclude that God doesn’t see them as a central issue in relationships. Of course, age can be relevant when it comes to maturity, life stage, and compatibility, especially when one person is much younger than the other. A relationship between an 18-year-old and a 40-year-old is going to raise valid concerns for most people. But a marriage between a 60-year-old and an 82-year-old typically doesn’t generate the same reaction. As people age, those differences tend to matter less. What God does make clear in Scripture is that the person we marry should be of the opposite sex, as shown in Genesis 2:21–25, and that they should be a fellow believer, according to 2 Corinthians 6:14. Additionally, marriage should be entered into for the right reasons—out of love, commitment, and a desire to build a life together—not for superficial or selfish motives like lust or financial gain. Beyond those foundational guidelines, the Bible gives us freedom in who we choose to marry, including considerations like age. If there is a significant age difference between partners, that’s something to take seriously, and it’s wise to seek God’s guidance and wisdom in those decisions, as James 1:5 encourages. But age, in and of itself, is not a moral or spiritual issue. The focus should always be on faith, character, compatibility, and a shared commitment to God. That’s what matters most in a marriage, and that’s what the Bible emphasizes above all.
