The Bible does not explicitly forbid interracial marriage. However, there are some passages in the Old Testament that have been historically interpreted in ways that were used to justify racial segregation and discrimination, but it's important to understand these passages in their historical context. One commonly cited passage is from the Old Testament:
Numbers 12:1 (NIV): "Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite."
In this verse, Miriam and Aaron, siblings of Moses, expressed disapproval of his marriage to a Cushite woman. Cush was an ancient region in Africa. Some have used this passage to argue against interracial marriage, suggesting that God disapproved of it. However, the context of this passage is not necessarily about race but about Miriam and Aaron's jealousy and opposition to Moses' leadership.
Furthermore, in the New Testament, there is a verse that emphasizes unity in Christ, irrespective of ethnicity or race:
Galatians 3:28 (NIV): "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
This verse underscores the idea that in Christ, all believers are considered one, regardless of their ethnic or racial background.
It's important to note that interpretations of biblical passages can vary among different Christian denominations and theologians. Many modern Christians do not see the Bible as prohibiting interracial marriage and emphasize the principles of love, unity, and equality found throughout the Scriptures. Ultimately, whether or not to marry someone of a different race should be a matter of personal choice and not solely based on interpretations of specific biblical passages.