Devine Scripture

Matthew 19:9

What does Matthew 19:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 19:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 19:9 means

Jesus then delivered His definitive teaching on divorce and remarriage, stating that anyone who divorces his wife, except for 'fornication' (porneia, encompassing sexual immorality), and marries another, commits adultery. Similarly, whoever marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. This stern declaration reaffirms the sanctity and permanence of marriage, identifying remarriage after an unbiblical divorce as a violation of the marital covenant and God's law.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And I say to you, that, whoever may put away his wife, if not for whoredom, and may marry another, doth commit adultery; and he who did marry her that hath been put away, doth commit adultery.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, not for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery; and he who marries one put away commits adultery.

Context

Building on His explanation of Moses's allowance in verse 8, Jesus here provides His own clear and authoritative teaching on divorce. This verse serves as the ethical heart of His discourse on marriage, drawing a sharp contrast with prevailing interpretations and directly leading to the disciples' surprised reaction.

v.8He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.

v.9This passage

v.10The disciples say unto him, If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 7:39

    A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

  • Genesis 20:3

    But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

  • 2 Chronicles 21:11

    Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, and led Judah astray.

  • Ezekiel 16:15

    But thou didst trust in thy beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy whoredoms on every one that passed by; his it was.

  • Ezekiel 16:8

    Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord Jehovah, and thou becamest mine.

  • Matthew 5:32

    but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

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