Wilt thou… forsaking all others, keep thee only unto [him; her], so long as ye both shall live?

This line is part of the traditional English-language Christian marriage rite, spoken by the officiant during the exchange of vows. It comes from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer tradition, where the couple is asked a series of “Wilt thou…” questions (often called the “questions of intent”) before making vows. The phrasing reflects early modern English (“thee,” “thou,” “ye”) and was designed to be solemn, public, and legally and morally binding. In many jurisdictions and denominations, this wording (or close paraphrases) became widely familiar through church weddings and later through civil ceremonies influenced by the Prayer Book.

The question frames marriage as an exclusive, lifelong covenant: the spouse is chosen above “all others,” and fidelity is promised for the duration of both lives. Its force lies in the public, interrogative form—rather than merely stating a promise, the person must answer directly, signaling consent and accountability before witnesses. The archaic diction heightens the sense of tradition and gravity, linking individual affection to communal and religious norms. The bracketed “[him; her]” indicates the formula’s adaptability to either spouse, emphasizing that the obligation of exclusivity is reciprocal rather than gender-specific in principle.

1) “Will you… forsaking all others, be faithful to him/her as long as you both shall live?”
2) “Will you… forsaking all others, keep yourself only for him/her, so long as you both shall live?”
3) “Will you have this woman/man to be your wedded wife/husband… and, forsaking all others, keep you only unto her/him, so long as you both shall live?”