“It is not good” – Rabbi Yaakov taught: Anyone who does not have a wife is without good, without help, without joy, without blessing, without atonement. Without good – “it is not good that the man should be alone.” Without help – “I will make a helper for him alongside him.” Without joy – as it is stated: “You shall rejoice, you and your household” (Deuteronomy 14:26).
Without atonement – “he shall atone for himself and for his household” (Leviticus 16:11). Without blessing – “to lay a blessing upon your house” (Ezekiel 44:30). Rabbi Simon said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: He is also without peace, as it is stated: “You shall be in peace, and your household shall be in peace” (I Samuel 25:6). Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: He is also without life, as it is stated: “Appreciate life with a woman whom you love” (Ecclesiastes 9:9).
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Gamda said: He is not even a complete man, as it is stated: “He blessed them, and He called their name Man, on the day they were created” (Genesis 5:2) – when both of them are together they are called “Man.” Some say he even diminishes the [divine] image, as it is stated: “As He made man in the image of God” (Genesis 9:6). What is written thereafter? “And you, be fruitful, and multiply” (Genesis 9:7).6A man’s being in the image of God is contingent upon marrying and producing offspring.