Matthew 19:1-12 - On Divorce

¹ And it came about that after saying these words, Jesus went away from Galilee, and came into the parts of Judaea on the other side of Jordan. ² And a great number went after him; and he made them well there. ³ And certain Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, Is it right for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

⁴ And he said in answer, Have you not seen in the Writings, that he who made them at the first made them male and female, and said, ⁵ For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and the two will become one flesh?

⁶ So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Then let not that which has been joined by God be parted by man.

⁷ They say to him, Why then did Moses give orders that a husband might give her a statement in writing and be free from her?

⁸ He says to them, Moses, because of your hard hearts, let you put away your wives: but it has not been so from the first. ⁹ And I say to you, Whoever puts away his wife for any other cause than the loss of her virtue, and takes another, is a false husband: and he who takes her as his wife when she is put away, is no true husband to her.

¹⁰ The disciples say to him, If this is the position of a man in relation to his wife, it is better not to be married.

¹¹ But he said to them, Not all men are able to take in this saying, but only those to whom it is given. ¹² For there are men who, from birth, were without sex: and there are some who were made so by men: and there are others who have made themselves so for the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to take it, let him take it.

¹ And he got up, and went into the country of Judaea on the other side of Jordan: and great numbers of people came together to him again; and, as was his way, he gave them teaching. ² And Pharisees came to him, testing him with the question, Is it right for a man to put away his wife?

³ And he said to them in answer, What did Moses say you were to do?

⁴ And they said to him, Moses let us give her a statement in writing, and be free from her.

⁵ But Jesus said to them, Because of your hard hearts he gave you this law. ⁶ But from the first, male and female made he them.

⁷ For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; ⁸ And the two will become one flesh; so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Let not that which has been joined together by God be parted by man.

¹⁰ And in the house the disciples put questions to him again about this thing. ¹¹ And he said to them, Whoever puts away his wife and takes another, is false to his wife; ¹² And if she herself puts away her husband and takes another, she is false to her husband.

¹⁸ Everyone who puts away his wife and takes another, is a false husband: and he who is married to a woman whose husband has put her away, is no true husband to her.