Luke 16:18
What does Luke 16:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 16:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 16:18 means
Jesus cites a specific application of God's unchanging law concerning marriage and divorce, declaring that remarriage after an illegitimate divorce constitutes adultery. This teaching underscores the sanctity and permanence of marriage as instituted by God, a principle upheld even within the context of the new covenant. By addressing divorce, Jesus challenges the cultural practices of his day, which allowed men to easily dismiss their wives, revealing how the Pharisees' love of wealth and self-justification could extend to a lax interpretation of even fundamental moral laws.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Every 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Every 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Everyone 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.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`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.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Every one that putteth away his wife and marrieth another committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Every one who puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery; and every one that marries one put away from a husband commits adultery.
Context
Building on the affirmation of the Law's enduring truth in verse 17, Jesus provides a concrete example of its application concerning marriage and divorce. This specific legal and moral teaching continues His confrontation with the Pharisees' interpretation and practice of the Law, indirectly connecting to their self-justification and love of worldly ease. This stark example completes Jesus' direct address to the Pharisees before transitioning to a new parable that illustrates eternal consequences.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 7:4
The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.
- 1 Corinthians 7:10
But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband
- Matthew 5:31
It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- Mark 10:11
And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her:
- Matthew 19:9
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.
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