Devine Scripture

Mark 10:5

What does Mark 10:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 10:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 10:5 means

Jesus reveals the true reason behind Moses' concession for divorce: the 'hardness of heart' of the people. This indicates that while God tolerated divorce under certain circumstances, it was not His ideal. Human sinfulness and resistance to God's perfect will necessitated this provision, which Moses recorded not as a divine command for divorce, but as a regulation of an already existing undesirable practice.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But Jesus said to them, Because of your hard hearts he gave you this law.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jesus answering said to them, `For the stiffness of your heart he wrote you this command,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

To whom Jesus answering, said: Because of the hardness of your heart, he wrote you that precept.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jesus answering said to them, In view of your hard-heartedness he wrote this commandment for you;

Context

Jesus clarifies the intent of Moses' allowance for divorce, explaining it as a concession to human sinfulness. This powerful statement pivots the discussion from legalistic interpretation to the core of God's original creation, foreshadowing Jesus' return to the foundational purpose of marriage in the ensuing verses.

v.4And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

v.5This passage

v.6But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 7:51

    Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.

  • Deuteronomy 31:27

    For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against Jehovah; and how much more after my death?

  • Nehemiah 9:16

    But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

  • Matthew 19:8

    He 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.

  • Nehemiah 9:26

    Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and slew thy prophets that testified against them to turn them again unto thee, and they wrought great provocations.

  • Hebrews 3:7

    Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice,

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