What does "Divorce" mean in the Bible?
Divorce, the dissolution of the marriage relation. This was permitted by the law of Moses because already existent, but so regulated as to mitigate its injustice and cruelty to the wife, Deut 24:1-4, and in certain cases forbidden, Deut 22:19, 1 Chr 2:29. Divorce appears in 6 verses across 4 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Divorce?
DIVORCE', the dissolution of the marriage relation. This was permitted by the law of Moses because already existent, but so regulated as to mitigate its injustice and cruelty to the wife, Deut 24:1-4, and in certain cases forbidden, Deut 22:19, 1 Chr 2:29. Although divorce was common in the later days of the Hebrew nation, Mal 2:16, and men put away their wives for trivial causes, Matt 19:3 — and many of the Jewish doctors contended that this was the spirit of the Law — there is no distinct case of divorce mentioned in the O.T. Our Saviour was questioned upon this matter, but he defeated the purpose of his inquisitors to entangle him in his talk, and took the opportunity to rebuke the lax morals of the day and set forth adultery as the only proper ground of divorce. Matt 5:32; 1 Kgs 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18. According to Jewish customs, the husband was required to give his wife a writing or bill of divorcement, in which was set forth the date, place, and cause of her repudiation, and a permission was given by it to marry whom she pleased. It was provided, however, that she might be restored to the relation at any future time if she did not meanwhile marry any other man. The woman also seems to have had power — at least in a later period of the Jewish state — to put away her husband — i.e. without a formal divorce to forsake him. Mark 10:12. DIZ'AHAB (region of gold), a place in the Arabian desert, near which Moses rehearsed to Israel God's dealings with them, Deut 1:1; possibly Dehab.
Definition text: Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible · 1898. Public domain.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
What is the Greek word for Divorce?
Greek · G630
ἀπολύω
apoluō
to release: release
TBESG, from Abbott-Smith (1922). Public domain.
Where does Divorce appear in the Bible?
Divorce is referenced in 6 verses across 4 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Deuteronomy 22:29
- Malachi 2:16
- Matthew 1:19
- Matthew 19:3
- Matthew 19:8
- Mark 10:2
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Divorce.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Divorce?
Divorce appears in 6 verses across 4 books, most often in Matthew, which accounts for 3 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Divorce?
Matthew, Deuteronomy, Malachi, Mark.
Where can I read every verse about Divorce?
This page lists 6 of them. Protos carries all 6, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
