New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday approved the civil union bill, putting same-sex couples within a pen's stroke of acquiring the rights and benefits of marriage.

At the same time, Governor Corzine and powerful legislators declared that after a law is in place, they would be open to an amendment granting gay activists what they have sought: the word "marriage" itself.

Corzine has said he intends to make the bill law, but he indicated he could take days, even weeks, to review Thursday's legislation.

"We're going to do a study, as we do on all legislation, to make sure what we're getting is what we intended to get," Corzine said.  "We don't want to make a mistake that ends up harming individuals because we did something too quickly."

State law gives him 45 days to sign or veto a bill that clears the Legislature.  If approved, the civil union bill would go into effect 30 days later.

In the Assembly the measure passed 56-19; in the Senate it was 23-12.

The approvals were no surprise:  When the bill was introduced in both houses 10 days ago, it had support from legislative leaders, the majority Democrats and Corzine.  Opponents -- mostly Republicans -- privately acknowledged defeat.

Yet in the moments before the voting Thursday, the drama was gripping, even poignant.  Legislators invoked the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, societal changes and, unfailingly, the quandary as old as politics itself:  personal values versus the public will.

"Just a couple of years ago, the kind of bill we are going to pass today was unthinkable.  Unthinkable!" said Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo, D-Newark, a sponsor.

He acknowledged gay advocates' unhappiness with the bill but promised that he "will not rest until the word 'marriage' matters for all of us."

"We simply do not have the votes today," he said.

After the vote in the other house, Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, said in a statement:  "This is, by no means, the end.  But it is a major step forward."

Corzine, too, suggested that the law could change in favor of the word "marriage."

"I don't think there is anything wrong with periodically reviewing this," Corzine said.

The Assembly floor debate moved even some State House employees, who ordinarily do not display their feelings on pending legislation.  As Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer, R-Ocean, quoted Matthew 19:4, an elderly aide, standing sentry at the chambers' entrance, bowed his head and silently mouthed:  "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female."

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, who last week became the first New Jersey legislator to declare his homosexuality, reminded his colleagues that "Jefferson's credo" -- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- was part of "a living document."

The constitution, he said, "didn't apply to women, to African-Americans, Hispanics, gays or lesbians.  It evolved."

Lawmakers finished their work with more than four months to spare.  In October, the state Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature had six months to extend the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples, and decide what to call their legal relationship:  marriage, civil union or something else.

"Mr. Speaker, it's been only 60 days," said Assemblyman Michael J. Doherty, R-Warren.  "Here we are right before the holidays ramming this through.  I am concerned we are acting far too quickly here."

Staff Writer John McAlpin contributed to this article.  E-mail: younge@northjersey.com