MAT 5:31-32

Divorce

31"It was also said, 'Whoever releases his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'

32But I say to you that everyone who releases his wife, except on grounds of sexual immorality, causes her to be made an adulteress; and whoever marries a released woman commits adultery."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish society, divorce was a male prerogative, governed by Deuteronomic law (Deut 24:1-4). A husband could issue a certificate of divorce for any cause, often leaving women economically vulnerable and socially stigmatized. The term (sexual immorality) referred to a range of illicit sexual behaviors, including adultery, incest, or prostitution, which were grounds for divorce in Jewish law. Jesus’ statement challenges this broad allowance, restricting divorce to cases of alone. By doing so, he implicitly critiques the casual dismissal of wives and the resulting harm to women. His warning that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery underscores the permanence of marital bonds in his teaching, aligning with a stricter interpretation of marriage’s sanctity. This stance would have been provocative, as it limited male authority and elevated the status of women within marriage.

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How other translations render this

MAT 5:31

KJV: It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
BSB: It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
Koinōnos: It was also said, 'Whoever releases his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.

MAT 5:32

KJV: 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: But I say to you that everyone who releases his wife, except on grounds of sexual immorality, causes her to be made an adulteress; and whoever marries a released woman commits adultery.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 5:31

maybe:The word translated 'divorce' here literally means to release or send away. It implies a formal dismissal, often with the intent of ending a relationship or obligation.
to her:The phrase translated 'certificate of divorce' refers to a legal document that formally dissolved a marriage, granting the woman the right to remarry and protecting her from accusations of adultery.

MAT 5:32

of sexual immorality:The term translated 'sexual immorality' is a broad word encompassing various illicit sexual acts, including prostitution, fornication, and other sexual deviations, not just adultery.
to be adulterated;:The word translated 'commits adultery' specifically refers to sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their spouse, or in the passive, being the object of such an act.