Bible Strands
Luke 16:18
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the Pharisees, who are explicitly identified as the audience in the surrounding discourse. He delivers this declaration immediately after affirming the absolute permanence of the Law in Luke 16:17 and just before introducing a parable about a wealthy man in Luke 16:19.
The words — The participle ἀπολύων (apoluōn) literally means "putting away" or "releasing," denoting the formal act of divorce. The present participle γαμῶν (gamōn) means "marrying," indicating the act of taking a new spouse.
The thread — This statement runs parallel to Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:11, and Matthew 5:31, which all address the same marital boundaries. Matthew 19:9 includes an exception for sexual immorality, while Matthew 5:31 references the Mosaic requirement for a certificate of divorce.
Why it lands — The text states that divorcing one's wife and remarrying, or marrying a divorced woman, constitutes adultery. It demands strict adherence to marital fidelity without permitting remarriage after divorce.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
Cross-references
- Matthew 19:9 Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
- Mark 10:11 So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
- Matthew 5:31 It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
- 1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
- 1 Corinthians 7:10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.