Devine Scripture

Matthew 19:5

What does Matthew 19:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 19:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 19:5 means

Jesus quoted from Genesis, emphasizing that a man's leaving his parents and cleaving to his wife results in the two becoming 'one flesh.' This ancient scripture highlights the profound intimacy, permanence, and unity intended in the marital bond. It underscores that marriage is not merely a social contract but a sacred covenant that creates a new, unified entity, transcending the individual identities of the husband and wife.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and 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?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and 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?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall be--the two--for one flesh?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and said, On account of this a man shall leave father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh?

Context

Building on His appeal to creation in verse 4, Jesus here provides the specific scriptural basis for the unity of marriage. This quote from Genesis explains the spiritual and physical union intended by God, directly countering the Pharisees' attempt to justify easy divorce and laying the groundwork for Jesus's further pronouncements.

v.4And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

v.5This passage

v.6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2

    But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

  • Mark 10:5

    But Jesus said unto them, For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

  • Ephesians 5:31

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

  • 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.

  • Genesis 34:3

    And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

  • Deuteronomy 4:4

    But ye that did cleave unto Jehovah your God are alive every one of you this day.

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