English Standard Version
Matthew 19:9
9And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."
Matthew 19:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”
Context of Matthew 19:9
7They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?" 8He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." 10The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
Read all of Matthew 19Matthew 19:9 word by word
Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν· ὅτι ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην, μοιχᾶται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- Whosoeverὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- Whosoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- Whosoeverἄνan · ifG302
- shall put awayἀπολύωapoluō · to release: releaseG630
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- wifeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
- exceptεἰei · ifG1487
- exceptμήmē · notG3361
- forἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- fornicationπορνείαporneia · sexual sinG4202
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- shall marryγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060
- anotherἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
- committeth adulteryμοιχάωmoichaō · to commit adulteryG3429
Cross-references for Matthew 19:9
- Matthew 5:32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
- Mark 10:11And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
- Luke 16:18"Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
- 1 Corinthians 7:10To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband
- 2 Chronicles 21:11Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah and led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom and made Judah go astray.
- Jeremiah 3:8She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore.
- Ezekiel 16:8"When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
- Genesis 12:18So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
- Genesis 20:3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife."
- Jeremiah 3:1"If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the Lord.
- Romans 7:2For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.
- 1 Corinthians 7:4For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
Commentaries on Matthew 19:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Except it be for fornication - See on Matthew 5:32; (note). The decision of our Lord must be very unpleasant to these men: the reason why they wished to put away their wives was, that they might take others whom they liked better; but our Lord here declares that they could not be remarried while the divorced person was alive, and that those who did marry, during the life of the divorced, were adulterers; and heavy judgments were, denounced, in their law…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And I say unto you - Emphasis should be laid here on the word “I.” This was the opinion of Jesus - this he proclaimed to be the law of his kingdom this the command of God ever afterward. Indulgence had been given by the laws of Moses; but that indulgence was to cease, and the marriage relation to be brought back to its original intention. Only one offence was to make divorce lawful. This is the law of God; and by the same law, all marriages which take…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-12Verses 3-12 The Pharisees were desirous of drawing something from Jesus which they might represent as contrary to the law of Moses. Cases about marriage have been numerous, and sometimes perplexed; made so, not by the law of God, but by the lusts and follies of men; and often people fix what they will do, before they ask for advice. Jesus replied by asking whether they had not read the account of the creation, and the first example of marriage; thus…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Jesus allows only one valid reason for a man to divorce: if his wife has been unfaithful (see Matthew 5:32). For those who thought divorce was easy, Jesus emphasizes God's created order. Marriage is meant to last forever (see Mark 10:11–12). commits adultery: This refers to a man who divorces his wife without a valid reason. If he remarries, it is the same as adultery. Jesus aims to reestablish that marriage is permanent.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except, &c.--See on Mt 5:32.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 19:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries