Matthew 5:32

But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples and the surrounding crowds on the mountainside, directly responding to the divorce certificate tradition cited in Matthew 5:31. He positions himself as the authoritative interpreter who redefines the boundaries of marital separation for his listeners.

The words — ἀπολύων (apoluōn) denotes the active act of divorcing or releasing a wife, while ἐγὼ (egō) emphasizes Jesus' personal authority in delivering this declaration.

The thread — The prohibition against divorcing and remarrying recurs in Luke 16:18 and 1 Corinthians 7:10, while Romans 7:3 reinforces the principle that marital bonds remain binding until death.

Why it lands — The text states that divorcing and remarrying constitutes adultery unless sexual immorality is involved, requiring readers to treat marriage as an indissoluble covenant rather than a contract subject to unilateral termination.

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

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Cross-references

Romans 7:3 So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.
Luke 16:18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
1 Corinthians 7:10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
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.
Matthew 19:8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.
Mark 10:5 But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart.
Malachi 2:14 Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
Matthew 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Luke 9:35 And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”
Luke 9:30 Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus.