Matthew 1 · Verse 19

Matthew 1:19

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
Matthew 1:19, King James Version

Matthew 1:19 in other translations

BSBBecause Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
WEBJoseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
ASVAnd Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
YLTand Joseph her husband being righteous, and not willing to make her an example, did wish privately to send her away.
DARBYBut Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and unwilling to expose her publicly, purposed to have put her away secretly;
BBEAnd Joseph, her husband, being an upright man, and not desiring to make her a public example, had a mind to put her away privately.
WebsterThen Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, purposed to put her away privately.

What does Matthew 1:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Then Joseph her husband--Compare Mt 1:20, "Mary, thy wife." Betrothal was, in Jewish law, valid marriage. In giving Mary up, therefore, Joseph had to take legal steps to effect the separation. being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example--to expose her (see De 22:23, 24) was minded to put her away privily--that is, privately by giving her the required writing of divorcement (De 24:1), in presence of only two or three witnesses, and without cause assigned, instead of having her before a magistrate. That some communication had passed between him and his betrothed, directly or indirectly, on the subject, after she returned from her three months' visit to Elizabeth, can hardly be doubted. Nor does the purpose to divorce her necessarily imply disbelief, on Joseph's part, of the explanation given him. Even supposing him to have yielded to it some reverential assent--and the Evangelist seems to convey as much, by ascribing the proposal to screen her to the justice of his character--he might think it altogether unsuitable and incongruous in such circumstances to follow out the marriage.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Her husband. The word in the original does not imply that they were married. It means here the man to whom she was espoused.

A just man. Justice consists in rendering to every man his own. Yet this is evidently not the character intended to be given here of Joseph. It means that he was kind, tender, merciful; so attached to Mary, that he was not willing that she should be exposed to public shame. He sought, therefore, secretly to dissolve the connexion, and to restore her to her friends without the punishment commonly inflicted on adultery. The word just has not unfrequently this meaning of mildness, or mercy. See 1Jn 1:9.

A public example. To expose her to public shame or infamy. Adultery has always been considered a crime of a very heinous nature. In Egypt it was punished by cutting off the nose of the adulteress; in Persia the nose and ears were cut off; in Judea the punishment was death by stoning, Lev 20:10, Eze 16:38, 40, Jn 8:5. This punishment was also inflicted where the person was not married, but betrothed, De 22:23, 24. In this case, therefore, the regular punishment would have been death in this painful and ignominious manner. Yet Joseph was a religious man, mild and tender; and he was not willing to complain of her to the magistrate, and expose her to death, but sought to avoid the shame, and to put her away privately.

Put her away privily. The law of Moses gave the husband the power of divorce, De 24:1. It was customary, in a bill of divorce, to specify the causes for which the divorce was made, and witnesses were also present to testify to the divorce. But in this case, it seems, Joseph resolved to put her away without specifying the cause: for he was not willing to make her a public example. This is the meaning here of privately. Both to Joseph and Mary this must have been a great trial. Joseph was ardently attached to her, but her character was likely to be ruined, and he deemed it proper to separate her from him. Mary was innocent, but Joseph was not yet satisfied of her innocence. Yet we may learn how to put our trust in God. He will defend the innocent. Mary was in danger of being exposed to shame. Had she been connected with a cruel, passionate, and violent man, she would have died in disgrace. But God had so ordered it, that she was connected with a man mild, amiable, and tender; and, in due time, Joseph was apprized of the truth in the case, and took his faithful and beloved wife to his bosom. Thus our only aim should be to preserve a conscience void of offence, and God will guard our reputation. We may be assailed, or circumstances may be against us; but in due time God will take care to vindicate our character, and save us from ruin.

(v) "to put her away privily" De 24:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 To make her a public example - Παραδειγματισαι, to expose her to public infamy; from παρα, near, and δεικνυμαι, I show, or expose; what is oddly, though emphatically, called in England, showing up - exposing a character to public view. Though Joseph was a righteous man, δικαιος, and knew that the law required that such persons as he supposed his wife to be should be put to death, yet, as righteousness is ever directed by mercy, he determined to put her away or divorce her privately, i.e. without assigning any cause, that her life might be saved; and, as the offense was against himself, he had a right to pass it by if he chose. Some have supposed that the term δικαιος should be translated merciful, and it certainly often has this signification; but here it is not necessary.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 1:18-25

Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honours of this world, when compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into. It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been…

Read the full comment on Matthew 1:18-25 →

Matthew 1:19 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.

ἸωσὴφIōsēphJosephG2501
δὲdenowG1161
ὁhotheG3588
ἀνὴρanērhusbandG435
αὐτῆς,autēsof her,G846
δίκαιοςdikaiosrighteousG1342
ὢνōnbeingG1510
καὶkaiandG2532
μὴmēnotG3361
θέλωνthelōnwillingG2309
αὐτὴνautēnherG846
δειγματίσαι,deigmatisaito disgrace,G1165
ἐβουλήθηeboulēthēhe purposedG1014
λάθρᾳlathrasecretlyG2977
ἀπολῦσαιapolusaito send awayG630
αὐτήν.¶autēnher.G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 1:19

  • Deuteronomy 22:21-24

    Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you. If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

  • Deuteronomy 24:1-4

    When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

  • John 8:4-5

    They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

  • Mark 6:20

    For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

  • Genesis 38:24

    And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

  • Leviticus 20:10

    And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

  • Psalms 112:4-5

    Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

  • Luke 2:25

    And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

  • Mark 10:4

    And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

  • Leviticus 19:20

    And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
her husband.
Le 19:20; De 22:23,24
a just.
Ge 6:9; Ps 112:4,5; Mr 6:20; Lu 2:25; Ac 10:22
a public.
Ge 38:24; Le 20:10; De 22:21-24; Joh 8:4,5
was.
De 24:1-4; Mr 10:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 1:18

    Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

  • Matthew 1:19

    Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

  • Matthew 1:20

    But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Read all of Matthew 1

Matthew 1:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y José su marido, como era justo, y no quisiese infamarla, quiso dejarla secretamente.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais Joseph, son mari, étant juste, et ne voulant pas faire d’elle un exemple, se proposa de la répudier secrètement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Joseph aber, ihr Mann, indem er gerecht war und sie nicht öffentlich zur Schau stellen wollte, gedachte sie heimlich zu entlassen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Joseph autem vir ejus cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere, voluit occulte dimittere eam.