Mark 10:7
What does Mark 10:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 10:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 10:7 means
This verse, quoted from Genesis 2:24, articulates the first essential aspect of the marriage union: the man is to 'leave his father and mother.' This signifies a covenantal transfer of primary loyalty and dependency from one's birth family to the new family unit formed with the spouse. It establishes the independence and distinctiveness of the marital relationship.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother, and be joined to his wife;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862on this account shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For this cause, a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united to his wife,
Context
Building on the truth of God's creation of male and female, Jesus continues to quote from Genesis, specifically highlighting the man's departure from his parents. This aspect of 'leaving' is the first step towards the formation of the new, exclusive marital unit, paving the way for the critical 'cleaving' and 'one flesh' principles that follow.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
- 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.
- Matthew 19:5
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?
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