Devine Scripture

Matthew 19:4

What does Matthew 19:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 19:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 19:4 means

Jesus directly addressed the Pharisees' divorce question by pointing them back to God's original design for marriage at creation. He reminded them that God made humanity as male and female, implying a foundational complementarity and purpose in their union. By referring to Genesis, Jesus established divine intent as the ultimate standard, rather than contemporary interpretations or legal loopholes.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he answering said to them, `Did ye not read, that He who made <FI>them<Fi> , from the beginning a male and a female made them,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female? And he said:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But he answering said [to them], Have ye not read that he who made [them], from the beginning made them male and female,

Context

In response to the Pharisees' provocative question regarding the lawfulness of divorce in verse 3, Jesus immediately shifts the focus to the foundational principles of creation. This sets the stage for His argument by establishing God's original intent for marriage as the ultimate authority, before addressing the Mosaic allowance.

v.3And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

v.4This passage

v.5and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 22:31

    But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

  • Genesis 5:2

    male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

  • Luke 10:26

    And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

  • Genesis 2:18

    And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.

  • Luke 6:3

    And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him;

  • Malachi 2:15

    And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

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