Mark 10 · Verse 12

Mark 10:12

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Mark 10:12, King James Version

Mark 10:12 in other translations

BSBAnd if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
WEBIf a woman herself divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
ASVand if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.
YLTand if a woman may put away her husband, and is married to another, she committeth adultery.'
DARBYAnd if a woman put away her husband and shall marry another, she commits adultery.
BBEAnd if she herself puts away her husband and takes another, she is false to her husband.
WebsterAnd if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

What does Mark 10:12 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband - From this it appears that in some cases, the wife assumed the very same right of divorcing her husband that the husband had of divorcing his wife; and yet this is not recorded any where in the Jewish laws, as far as I can find, that the women had such a right. Indeed, were the law which gives the permission all on one side, it would be unjust and oppressive; but where it is equally balanced, the right being the same on each side, it must serve as a mutual check, and prevent those evils it is intended to cure. Among the Jews there are several instances of the women having taken other men, even during the life of their own husbands. Nor do we find any law by which they were punished. Divorce never should be permitted but on this ground - "The parties are miserable together, and they are both perfectly willing to be separated." Then, if every thing else be proper, let them go different ways, that they may not ruin both themselves and their hapless offspring.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 10:1-12

Wherever Jesus was, the people flocked after him in crowds, and he taught them. Preaching was Christ's constant practice. He here shows that the reason why Moses' law allowed divorce, was such that they ought not to use the permission; it was only for the hardness of their hearts. God himself joined man and wife together; he has fitted them to be comforts and helps for each other. The bond which God has tied, is not…

Read the full comment on Mark 10:1-12 →

Mark 10:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐὰνeanifG1437
αὐτὴautēsheG846
ἀπολύσασαapolusasahaving divorcedG630
τὸνtontheG3588
ἄνδραandrahusbandG435
αὐτῆςautēsof herG846
γαμήσῃgamēsēshall marryG1060
ἄλλον,allonanother,G243
μοιχᾶται.¶moichataishe commits adultery.G3429

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 10:12

  • 1 Corinthians 7:11

    But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:13

    And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Context

  • Mark 10:11

    And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

  • Mark 10:12

    And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

  • Mark 10:13

    And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

Read all of Mark 10

Mark 10:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si la mujer repudiare á su marido y se casare con otro, comete adulterio.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et si une femme répudie son mari, et en épouse un autre, elle commet adultère.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wenn ein Weib ihren Mann entlassen und einen anderen heiraten wird, so begeht sie Ehebruch.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et si uxor dimiserit virum suum, et alii nupserit, mœchatur.