Devine Scripture

Mark 10:4

What does Mark 10:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 10:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 10:4 means

The Pharisees correctly state that Moses 'suffered' or permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and dismiss his wife. This reflects the provision found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, which allowed for divorce but also regulated it. However, they presented this permission as an instruction, missing the underlying reason for Moses' concession.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they said, `Moses suffered to write a bill of divorce, and to put away.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Who said: Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce and to put her away.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they said, Moses allowed to write a bill of divorce, and to put away.

Context

Having been prompted by Jesus, the Pharisees accurately cite Moses' allowance for divorce. This answer provides the historical and legal backdrop against which Jesus will present His radical reinterpretation of marriage, shifting the focus from legislative permission to God's foundational design for the union of a man and a woman.

v.3And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

v.4This passage

v.5But Jesus said unto them, For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 1:19

    And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

  • Isaiah 50:1

    Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.

  • Jeremiah 3:1

    They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, will he return unto her again? will not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith Jehovah.

  • Matthew 19:7

    They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?

  • Deuteronomy 24:1

    When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

  • Matthew 5:31

    It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

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