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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220It has been said, &#8216Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />It was also said, 'Whoever shall divorce his wife, let him give her a letter of divorce.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Now it was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY IS TO GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220It was said, &#8216WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And it was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Now it was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“It has also been said, ‘WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE IS TO GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />&#8220It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You have been taught that a man who divorces his wife must write out divorce papers for her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"It has also been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"It was also said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />It has also been said, ?Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"It was said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"And it was said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce,'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />It hath been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"It was also said, 'If any man puts away his wife, let him give her a written notice of divorce.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it was said that, Whoever may put away his wife, let him give to her a writing of divorce;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />It was also said, 'Whoever shall divorce his wife, let him give her a letter of divorce.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'And it was said, That whoever may put away his wife, let him give to her a writing of divorce;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it was said, That whosoever should loose his wife, let him give her a repudiation.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And it hath been said, Whoseoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And it has been said: ‘Whoever would dismiss his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />It has been said that whoever divorces his wife, must give her the divorce papers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />It has been said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce.”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />It has been said: Whoever will put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>And it was said, Whosoever may send away his wife, let him give her a divorcement.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />It hath been said indeed, That whosoever will put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />It hath been said, whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"It was also said, 'If any man puts away his wife, let him give her a written notice of divorce.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>"And it was said, 'Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement;'<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>And it has been said, whosoever would put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce:<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/5-31.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=1080" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/5.htm">Divorce</a></span><br><span class="reftext">30</span>And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell. <span class="reftext">31</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2046.htm" title="2046: Errethē (V-AIP-3S) -- Probably a fuller form of rheo; an alternate for epo in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. Speak or say.">It has also been said,</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: Hos (RelPro-NMS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">‘Whoever</a> <a href="/greek/302.htm" title="302: an (Prtcl) -- A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty."></a> <a href="/greek/630.htm" title="630: apolysē (V-ASA-3S) -- From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.">divorces</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/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/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/1325.htm" title="1325: dotō (V-AMA-3S) -- To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.">must give</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autē (PPro-DF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">her</a> <a href="/greek/647.htm" title="647: apostasion (N-ANS) -- Neuter of a adjective from a derivative of aphistemi; properly, something separative, i.e. divorce.">a certificate of divorce.’</a> </span> <span class="reftext">32</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-3.htm">Matthew 19:3-9</a></span><br />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’? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-2.htm">Mark 10:2-12</a></span><br />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.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18</a></span><br />Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a></span><br />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, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-10.htm">1 Corinthians 7:10-11</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Malachi 2:14-16</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2-3</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a></span><br />For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-31.htm">Ephesians 5:31-33</a></span><br />“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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-1.htm">Jeremiah 3:1</a></span><br />“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/2-2.htm">Hosea 2:2</a></span><br />Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-16.htm">1 Corinthians 6:16</a></span><br />Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7</a></span><br />A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/10-10.htm">Ezra 10:10-11</a></span><br />Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel. / Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">It has been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce:</p><p class="hdg">whosoever.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/19-3.htm">Matthew 19:3,7</a></b></br> The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a></b></br> When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give <i>it</i> in her hand, and send her out of his house… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/3-1.htm">Jeremiah 3:1</a></b></br> They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/50-1.htm">Certificate</a> <a href="/matthew/1-19.htm">Divorce</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-8.htm">Divorcement</a> <a href="/luke/16-18.htm">Divorces</a> <a href="/jonah/1-6.htm">Notice</a> <a href="/zechariah/8-15.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/matthew/5-21.htm">Puts</a> <a href="/zephaniah/2-2.htm">Sends</a> <a href="/zechariah/3-6.htm">Statement</a> <a href="/matthew/5-27.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/zechariah/5-3.htm">Writing</a> <a href="/matthew/4-10.htm">Written</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/19-7.htm">Certificate</a> <a href="/matthew/19-3.htm">Divorce</a> <a href="/matthew/19-7.htm">Divorcement</a> <a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Divorces</a> <a href="/matthew/7-3.htm">Notice</a> <a href="/matthew/15-9.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Puts</a> <a href="/matthew/5-45.htm">Sends</a> <a href="/matthew/5-37.htm">Statement</a> <a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/matthew/19-7.htm">Writing</a> <a href="/matthew/11-10.htm">Written</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-1.htm">Jesus' sermon on the mount:</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-3.htm">The Beattitudes;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-13.htm">the salt of the earth;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">the light of the world.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">He came to fulfill the law.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-21.htm">What it is to kill;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-27.htm">to commit adultery;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-33.htm">to swear.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">38. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-38.htm">He exhorts to forgive wrong,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">43. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-43.htm">to love our enemies;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">48. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/5-48.htm">and to labor after perfection.</a></span><br></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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>It has also been said</b><br>This phrase indicates that Jesus is referencing a teaching or tradition familiar to His audience. In the context of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus often contrasts the traditional interpretations of the Law with His deeper, authoritative teaching. This approach highlights His role as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, as seen in <a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">Matthew 5:17</a>.<p><b>‘Whoever divorces his wife</b><br>In the cultural and historical context of first-century Judaism, divorce was a significant issue. The Mosaic Law, specifically <a href="/deuteronomy/24.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a>, allowed for divorce, but interpretations varied. The Pharisees and other religious leaders often debated the grounds for divorce, with some schools of thought, like that of Rabbi Hillel, allowing it for almost any reason, while others, like Rabbi Shammai, were more restrictive.<p><b>must give her a certificate of divorce.’</b><br>The certificate of divorce, or "get" in Hebrew, was a legal document that formally ended a marriage and allowed the woman to remarry. This requirement was intended to protect the rights of the woman, ensuring she was not left in a state of limbo. In the broader biblical context, Jesus later clarifies His teaching on divorce in <a href="/matthew/19-3.htm">Matthew 19:3-9</a>, emphasizing the sanctity and permanence of marriage as instituted by God in <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a>. This teaching underscores the seriousness with which Jesus views the marriage covenant, contrasting with the more lenient interpretations of His time.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The speaker of this verse, delivering the Sermon on the Mount, where He addresses the deeper issues of the heart concerning the Law.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The Old Testament prophet who delivered the Law, including regulations on divorce, to the Israelites.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_pharisees.htm">The Pharisees</a></b><br>Religious leaders of the time who often interpreted the Law in a legalistic manner, focusing on external compliance rather than internal righteousness.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The original recipients of the Mosaic Law, which included provisions for divorce.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_sermon_on_the_mount.htm">The Sermon on the Mount</a></b><br>The setting of this teaching, where Jesus expounds on the true spirit of the Law.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_heart_of_the_law.htm">Understanding the Heart of the Law</a></b><br>Jesus challenges His listeners to look beyond the letter of the Law to its spirit, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and commitment in marriage.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_sanctity_of_marriage.htm">The Sanctity of Marriage</a></b><br>Marriage is a covenant designed by God, and divorce should not be taken lightly. Believers are called to honor this covenant.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_heart.htm">The Role of the Heart</a></b><br>Jesus points out that the issue of divorce is not merely a legal matter but a heart issue. Believers should examine their hearts and motives in their relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/grace_and_forgiveness.htm">Grace and Forgiveness</a></b><br>While divorce is a serious matter, the grace of God is available for those who have experienced it. Believers should seek reconciliation and healing where possible.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_counter-culturally.htm">Living Counter-Culturally</a></b><br>In a culture where divorce is common, Christians are called to uphold the biblical standard of marriage, reflecting God's faithfulness in their relationships.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_remarriage_post-adultery_adultery.htm">Is remarriage after adultery considered adultery?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_this_your_divorce_certificate.htm">Is this your official Certificate of Divorce?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_about_feelings.htm">Is this your official Certificate of Divorce?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><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 name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(31) <span class= "bld">It hath been said.</span>--The better MSS. give, "<span class= "ital">But</span> it was said," as though stating an implied objection to the previous teaching. Men might think that they could avoid the sin of adultery by taking the easy course of divorcing one wife before marrying another.<p><span class= "bld">Whosoever shall put away . . .</span>--The quotation is given as the popular Rabbinic explanation of <a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm" title="When a man has taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorce, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.">Deuteronomy 24:1</a>, which, as our Lord teaches in <a href="/matthew/19-8.htm" title="He said to them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.">Matthew 19:8</a>, was given, on account of the hardness of men's hearts, to prevent yet greater evils. The words of the precept were vague--"If she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her," and the two school of casuists took opposite views of its meaning. The stricter party of Shammai held that the "uncleanness" meant simply unchastity before or after marriage. The followers of Hillel held, on the other hand (as Milton among Christian teachers), that anything that made the company of the wife distasteful was a sufficient ground for repudiation. Even a moralist generally so pure and noble as the son of Sirach, took in this matter the laxer view--"If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go" (<a href="//apocrypha.org/ecclesiasticus/25-26.htm" title="If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.">Ecclesiasticus 25:26</a>). It is noteworthy that our Lord, whose teaching, especially as regards the Sabbath question, might have been, for the most part, claimed by the school of Hillel, on this matter of divorce stamps the impress of His approval on the teaching of his rival.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 31, 32.</span> - <span class="accented">Divorce.</span> <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 31.</span> - Here only. <span class="cmt_word">It hath been said</span> (<span class="greek">ἐῥῤέθη δέ</span>). This is the only one of the six examples to which our Lord does not prefix "ye have heard," and inserts <span class="greek">δέ</span>. Hence Lightfoot ('Hor. Hebr.') writes, "This particle hath this emphasis in this place, that it whispers a silent objection, which is answered in the following verse," <span class="accented">i.e.</span> Christ had said even a sinful look is too much; the lawyers said, "But the Law allows divorce, and therefore a married man can after all obtain the woman he desires." But this is strained. The shorter expression is here sufficient, because of the close connexion of this subject with the preceding. Hence, Revised Version, better, <span class="accented">it was said also.</span> It is, by the by, curious that the translators of the Authorized Version should have altered the rendering of <span class="greek">ἐῥῤέθη</span>, which they had given rightly in vers. 21, 27, and should have preferred the perfect here and in vers 33, 38, 43. <span class="cmt_word">Whosoever shall put away</span>, etc. The substance of <a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1</a>, but leaving out all mention of cause for such putting away. This may be perhaps because our Lord is going to refer to this immediately, or because, in fact, the giving "a writing of divorcement" was now considered as alone of importance. <span class="cmt_word">Let him give her</span>; Hebrew, <span class="accented">into her hand</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> into her own possession (cf. <a href="/isaiah/1-1.htm">Isaiah 1:1</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/3-8.htm">Jeremiah 3:8</a>). <span class="cmt_word">A</span> <span class="cmt_word">writing of divorcement</span>. See the translation of such a <span class="accented">get</span> in Lightfoot ('Hor. Hebr.'). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/5-31.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">It has also been said,</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἐρρέθη</span> <span class="translit">(Errethē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2046.htm">Strong's 2046: </a> </span><span class="str2">Probably a fuller form of rheo; an alternate for epo in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. Speak or say.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Whoever</span><br /><span class="grk">Ὃς</span> <span class="translit">(Hos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">divorces</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀπολύσῃ</span> <span class="translit">(apolysē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_630.htm">Strong's 630: </a> </span><span class="str2">From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(autou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wife</span><br /><span class="grk">γυναῖκα</span> <span class="translit">(gynaika)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1135.htm">Strong's 1135: </a> </span><span class="str2">A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">must give</span><br /><span class="grk">δότω</span> <span class="translit">(dotō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1325.htm">Strong's 1325: </a> </span><span class="str2">To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτῇ</span> <span class="translit">(autē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a certificate of divorce.’</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀποστάσιον</span> <span class="translit">(apostasion)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_647.htm">Strong's 647: </a> </span><span class="str2">Neuter of a adjective from a derivative of aphistemi; properly, something separative, i.e. divorce.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/5-31.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 5:31 It was also said 'Whoever shall put (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/5-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 5:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 5:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/5-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 5:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 5:32" /></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>