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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Luke 16:18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/luke/16-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/42_Luk_16_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Luke 16:18 - The Law and the Prophets" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/luke/16-18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/luke/16-18.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/luke/">Luke</a> > <a href="/luke/16.htm">Chapter 16</a> > Verse 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad18.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/luke/16-17.htm" title="Luke 16:17">◄</a> Luke 16:18 <a href="/luke/16-19.htm" title="Luke 16:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/luke/16.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/luke/16.htm">New International Version</a> &#8220Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. <a href="/nlt/luke/16.htm">New Living Translation</a> “For example, a man who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery. And anyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.” <a href="/esv/luke/16.htm">English Standard Version</a> “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/bsb/luke/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. <a href="/blb/luke/16.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Everyone putting away his wife and marrying another commits adultery. And the one marrying her put away from a husband commits adultery. <a href="/kjv/luke/16.htm">King James Bible</a> Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. <a href="/nkjv/luke/16.htm">New King James Version</a> “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/nasb_/luke/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. <a href="/nasb/luke/16.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. <a href="/nasb77/luke/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. <a href="/lsb/luke/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. <a href="/amp/luke/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/csb/luke/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/hcsb/luke/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/asv/luke/16.htm">American Standard Version</a> Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery. <a href="/cev/luke/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> It is a terrible sin for a man to divorce his wife and marry another woman. It is also a terrible sin for a man to marry a divorced woman. <a href="/erv/luke/16.htm">English Revised Version</a> Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery. <a href="/gwt/luke/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "Any man who divorces his wife to marry another woman is committing adultery. The man who marries a woman divorced in this way is committing adultery. <a href="/gnt/luke/16.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery; and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. <a href="/isv/luke/16.htm">International Standard Version</a> Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery." <a href="/msb/luke/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. <a href="/net/luke/16.htm">NET Bible</a> "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/nheb/luke/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. <a href="/wbt/luke/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Whoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery; and whoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband, committeth adultery. <a href="/wey/luke/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Every man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries her when so divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/web/luke/16.htm">World English Bible</a> “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/luke/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Everyone who is sending his wife away, and marrying another, commits adultery; and everyone who is marrying her sent away from a husband commits adultery. <a href="/blb/luke/16.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Everyone putting away his wife and marrying another commits adultery. And the one marrying her put away from a husband commits adultery. <a href="/ylt/luke/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Every one who is sending away his wife, and marrying another, doth commit adultery; and every one who is marrying her sent away from a husband doth commit adultery. <a href="/slt/luke/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Every one loosing his wife, and marrying another, commits adultery: and every one marrying her having been loosed from the husband commits adultery.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/luke/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her that is put away from her husband, commmitteth adultery. <a href="/cpdv/luke/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. And whoever marries her who has been divorced by her husband commits adultery. <a href="/nabre/luke/16.htm">New American Bible</a> “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/nrsvce/luke/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/luke/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> He who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries the one who is separated commits adultery. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/luke/16.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “Whoever divorces his wife and takes another commits adultery, and everyone who takes her who is divorced commits adultery.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/luke/16.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery: and whoever marries her that is divorced, commits adultery.<CM> <a href="/godbey/luke/16.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>Every one sending away his wife, and marrying another, commits adultery; and the one marrying her who has been sent away by her husband commits adultery.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/luke/16.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Every one who putteth away his wife and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and every one who marrieth a woman divorced from her husband, committeth adultery.<CM> <a href="/mace/luke/16.htm">Mace New Testament</a> whoever repudiates his wife, and marries another, is an adulterer, and he that marries her, that is repudiated by her husband, is an adulterer. <a href="/wey/luke/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Every man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries her when so divorced from her husband commits adultery. <a href="/worrell/luke/16.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>"Every one who puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband, commits adultery.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/luke/16.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery; and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from <Fr>her<FR> husband committeth adultery.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/luke/16-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3-5_0Jtd9Lc?start=6603" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/luke/16.htm">The Law and the Prophets</a> 17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. 18<a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: Pas (Adj-NMS) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">Anyone</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">who</a> <a href="/greek/630.htm" title="630: apolyōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.">divorces</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1135.htm" title="1135: gynaika (N-AFS) -- A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.">wife</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/1060.htm" title="1060: gamōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- To marry, used of either sex. From gamos; to wed.">marries</a> <a href="/greek/2087.htm" title="2087: heteran (Adj-AFS) -- (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.">another woman</a> <a href="/greek/3431.htm" title="3431: moicheuei (V-PIA-3S) -- To commit adultery (of a man with a married woman, but also of a married man). From moichos; to commit adultery.">commits adultery,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">he who</a> <a href="/greek/1060.htm" title="1060: gamōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- To marry, used of either sex. From gamos; to wed.">marries</a> <a href="/greek/630.htm" title="630: apolelymenēn (V-RPM/P-AFS) -- From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.">a divorced woman</a> <a href="/greek/575.htm" title="575: apo (Prep) -- From, away from. A primary particle; off, i.e. Away, in various senses."></a> <a href="/greek/435.htm" title="435: andros (N-GMS) -- A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man."></a> <a href="/greek/3431.htm" title="3431: moicheuei (V-PIA-3S) -- To commit adultery (of a man with a married woman, but also of a married man). From moichos; to commit adultery.">commits adultery.</a> 19Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31-32</a> It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ / But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. <a href="/matthew/19-3.htm">Matthew 19:3-9</a> Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” / Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? ... <a href="/mark/10-2.htm">Mark 10:2-12</a> Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired. / “What did Moses command you?” He replied. / They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.” ... <a href="/1_corinthians/7-10.htm">1 Corinthians 7:10-11</a> To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. <a href="/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2-3</a> For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. <a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Malachi 2:14-16</a> Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith. <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a> For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. <a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a> If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ... <a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a> A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. <a href="/matthew/1-18.htm">Matthew 1:18-19</a> This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. / Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. <a href="/ephesians/5-31.htm">Ephesians 5:31-33</a> “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” / This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. / Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. <a href="/1_timothy/3-2.htm">1 Timothy 3:2</a> An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, <a href="/1_timothy/3-12.htm">1 Timothy 3:12</a> A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household. <a href="/titus/1-6.htm">Titus 1:6</a> An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination. <a href="/exodus/20-14.htm">Exodus 20:14</a> You shall not commit adultery.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Whoever puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery: and whoever marries her that is put away from her husband commits adultery.<a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Matthew 5:32</a> But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.<a href="/matthew/19-9.htm">Matthew 19:9</a> And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.<a href="/mark/10-11.htm">Mark 10:11,12</a> And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/mark/10-19.htm">Adultery</a> <a href="/luke/16-11.htm">Commit</a> <a href="/mark/10-12.htm">Commits</a> <a href="/mark/10-12.htm">Committeth</a> <a href="/matthew/19-9.htm">Divorced</a> <a href="/mark/10-12.htm">Divorces</a> <a href="/luke/2-36.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/luke/14-20.htm">Married</a> <a href="/mark/10-12.htm">Marries</a> <a href="/matthew/19-9.htm">Marrieth</a> <a href="/matthew/24-38.htm">Marrying</a> <a href="/luke/15-5.htm">Puts</a> <a href="/luke/11-33.htm">Putteth</a> <a href="/luke/14-26.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/luke/18-20.htm">Adultery</a> <a href="/luke/18-20.htm">Commit</a> <a href="/john/8-34.htm">Commits</a> <a href="/john/8-34.htm">Committeth</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-7.htm">Divorced</a> <a href="/matthew/5-31.htm">Divorces</a> <a href="/john/3-29.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/luke/17-27.htm">Married</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/7-28.htm">Marries</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Marrieth</a> <a href="/luke/17-27.htm">Marrying</a> <a href="/john/2-10.htm">Puts</a> <a href="/john/10-4.htm">Putteth</a> <a href="/luke/17-32.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Luke 16</div>1. <a href="/luke/16-1.htm">The parable of the unjust steward.</a> 14. <a href="/luke/16-14.htm">Jesus reproves the hypocrisy of the covetous Pharisees.</a> 19. <a href="/luke/16-19.htm">The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the biblical context, marriage is a covenant relationship, reflecting the union between Christ and the Church (<a href="/ephesians/5-31.htm">Ephesians 5:31-32</a>). The cultural context of first-century Judaism allowed for divorce, but Jesus emphasizes the original intent of marriage as a lifelong commitment (<a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a>). The Mosaic Law permitted divorce (<a href="/deuteronomy/24.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a>), but Jesus clarifies that this was due to the hardness of human hearts (<a href="/matthew/19-8.htm">Matthew 19:8</a>). The act of marrying another after divorce is equated with adultery, highlighting the seriousness of breaking the marital bond. This teaching aligns with the prophetic call for faithfulness found throughout the Old Testament, where Israel's unfaithfulness to God is often depicted as spiritual adultery (<a href="/jeremiah/3-8.htm">Jeremiah 3:8-9</a>).and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery This phrase further underscores the permanence of marriage. In the historical context, women often faced significant social and economic challenges after divorce. By stating that marrying a divorced woman results in adultery, Jesus elevates the status of marriage and protects the dignity of women, who were often marginalized. This teaching challenges the prevailing cultural norms of the time, where men could easily divorce their wives. It also connects to the broader biblical theme of covenant faithfulness, as seen in God's unwavering commitment to His people despite their unfaithfulness (<a href="/hosea/2-19.htm">Hosea 2:19-20</a>). The emphasis on adultery serves as a warning against undermining the divine institution of marriage, which is meant to reflect God's unchanging love and faithfulness.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The speaker of this verse, providing teaching on the sanctity of marriage. 2. <a href="/topical/p/pharisees.htm">Pharisees</a> Religious leaders who often challenged Jesus' teachings, particularly on matters of the law. 3. <a href="/topical/m/marriage.htm">Marriage</a> The covenantal relationship between a man and a woman, which is the focus of this teaching. 4. <a href="/topical/d/divorce.htm">Divorce</a> The legal dissolution of a marriage, which is addressed in this verse. 5. <a href="/topical/a/adultery.htm">Adultery</a> The act of being unfaithful in marriage, which is highlighted as a consequence of divorce and remarriage in this context.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_sanctity_of_marriage.htm">The Sanctity of Marriage</a> Marriage is a sacred covenant established by God, intended to be lifelong and exclusive. <a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_divorce.htm">The Seriousness of Divorce</a> Divorce is not to be taken lightly, as it disrupts the divine intention for marriage and can lead to sin. <a href="/topical/a/adultery_and_its_consequences.htm">Adultery and Its Consequences</a> Remarriage after divorce, except in certain circumstances, is considered adultery, underscoring the gravity of marital vows. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_forgiveness_and_reconciliation.htm">The Role of Forgiveness and Reconciliation</a> While divorce is serious, there is always room for forgiveness and reconciliation through Christ. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_biblical_guidance.htm">The Importance of Biblical Guidance</a> Believers should seek wisdom from Scripture and godly counsel when facing marital challenges.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_luke_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Luke 16</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_luke_16_18_with_matt_19_9.htm">How can Luke 16:18’s stark prohibition on divorce be reconciled with other scriptures (e.g., Matthew 19:9) that appear more nuanced on the issue?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_1_cor_7_12-16_allow_divorce.htm">How does 1 Corinthians 7:12–16 reconcile with other biblical passages that permit divorce only for adultery? </a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_about_divorce.htm">What does the Bible say about divorce?</a> <a href="/q/how_do_denominations_view_matt_19_9.htm">How do denominations interpret Matthew 19:9's Exception Clause?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/luke/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) Whosoever putteth away his wife.--On the special points involved, see Notes on <a href="/context/matthew/5-31.htm" title="It has been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce:">Matthew 5:31-32</a>; <a href="/context/matthew/19-3.htm" title="The Pharisees also came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?">Matthew 19:3-9</a>. Here, again, the explanation that has been given of the parable of the Unjust Steward, offers the only satisfactory explanation of the introduction of a topic apparently so irrelevant. The doctrine and discipline of divorce which the Pharisees taught, lowering the sacredness of the life of home, and ministering to the growing laxity of men's morals, was precisely what was meant by the steward's bidding the debtors take their bill and write fifty, or fourscore measures, instead of the hundred. (See Note on <a href="/context/luke/16-6.htm" title="And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said to him, Take your bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.">Luke 16:6-7</a>).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/luke/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 18. - Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband, committeth adultery. The teaching of the rabbis in the time of our Lord on the question of the marriage he was exceedingly lax, and tended to grave immorality in the family life. In the late unlawful marriage of Herod Antipas with Herodias, in which so many sacred and family ties were rudely torn asunder, no rabbi or doctor in Israel but one had raised his voice in indignant protest, and that one was the friend and connection of Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet John the Baptist. Divorce for the most trivial causes was sanctioned by the rabbis, and even such men as Hillel, the grandfather of that Gamaliel whom tradition speaks of as the rabbi whose lectures were listened to by the Boy Jesus, taught that a man might divorce his wife if in the cooking she burnt his dinner or even over salted his soup (see Talmud, treatise 'Gittin,' 9:10). SS. Luke and Paul, different to the great masters of profane history, like Thucydides, or Livy, or Xenophon, were evidently at no pains to round off their narratives. They give us the account of the Lord's words and works very much as they had them from the first listeners and eye-witnesses. When the notes and memories were very scant and fragmentary, as appear to have been the case in the Lord's discourse which St. Luke interposes between the parable of the steward and that of Dives and Lazarus, the fragmentary notes are reproduced without any attempt to round off the condensed, and at first sight apparently disconnected, utterances. So here, directly after the fragmentary report of certain sayings of Jesus, the great parable of Lazarus and Dives is introduced with somewhat startling abruptness; nothing of St. Luke's is added - simply the original report as Luke or Paul received it is reproduced. The following is probably the connection in which the famous parable was spoken. When the Lord spoke the parable-story of the unjust steward, he pressed home to the listeners, as its great lesson, the necessity of providing against the day of death, and he showed how, by the practice of kindness here towards the poor, the weak, and the suffering, they would make to themselves friends who would in their turn be of use to them - who would, in their hour of sore need, when death swept them out of this life, receive them into everlasting habitations. We believe that the Master, as he spoke these things, purposed - either on that very occasion, or very shortly after, when his listeners were again gathered together - supplementing this important teaching by another parable, in which the good of having friends in the world to come should be clearly shown. The parable of Lazarus as Dives, then, may be regarded as a piece of teaching following on to and closely connected with the parable of the unjust steward. Nine verses, however, as we have seen are inserted between the two parables. Of these, vers. 10-13 are simply some reflections of the Master on the parable of the steward just spoken. Then comes ver. 14 - a scornful interruption on the part of the Pharisee listeners. Our Lord replies to this (vers. 15-18), and then goes on, either then or very soon after, to the same auditory, with the parable of Lazarus and Dives, which is, in fact, a direct sequel to the parable of the unjust steward, and which St. Luke proceeds to relate without any further preamble. <a href="/commentaries/luke/16-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Everyone Πᾶς (Pas) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. who ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. divorces ἀπολύων (apolyōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_630.htm">Strong's 630: </a> From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. wife γυναῖκα (gynaika) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1135.htm">Strong's 1135: </a> A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. marries γαμῶν (gamōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1060.htm">Strong's 1060: </a> To marry, used of either sex. From gamos; to wed. another [woman] ἑτέραν (heteran) Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2087.htm">Strong's 2087: </a> (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different. commits adultery, μοιχεύει (moicheuei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3431.htm">Strong's 3431: </a> To commit adultery (of a man with a married woman, but also of a married man). From moichos; to commit adultery. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. he who ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. marries γαμῶν (gamōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1060.htm">Strong's 1060: </a> To marry, used of either sex. From gamos; to wed. a divorced woman ἀπολελυμένην (apolelymenēn) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_630.htm">Strong's 630: </a> From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce. commits adultery. μοιχεύει (moicheuei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3431.htm">Strong's 3431: </a> To commit adultery (of a man with a married woman, but also of a married man). From moichos; to commit adultery. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/luke/16-18.htm">NT Gospels: Luke 16:18 Everyone who divorces his wife and marries (Luke Lu Lk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/luke/16-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Luke 16:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Luke 16:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/luke/16-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Luke 16:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Luke 16:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>