Matthew 19 · Verse 3

Matthew 19:3

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Matthew 19:3, King James Version

Matthew 19:3 in other translations

BSBThen some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
WEBPharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
ASVAnd there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
YLTAnd the Pharisees came near to him, tempting him, and saying to him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?'
DARBYAnd the Pharisees came to him tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
BBEAnd certain Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, Is it right for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
WebsterThe Pharisees also came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

What does Matthew 19:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?--Two rival schools (as we saw on Mt 5:31) were divided on this question--a delicate one, as De Wette pertinently remarks, in the dominions of Herod Antipas.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. The Pharisees also came. Mt 3:7.

Tempting him. This means, to get him, if possible, to express an opinion that should involve him in difficulty. There was the more art in this captious question which they proposed, as at that time the people were very much divided on the subject. A part, following the opinions of Hillel, said, that a man might divorce his wife for any offence, or any dislike he might have of her. Mt 5:31. Others, of the school of Shammai, maintained, that divorce was unlawful, except in case of adultery. Whatever opinion, therefore, Christ expressed, they expected that he would involve himself in difficulty with one of their parties.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Tempting him - Trying what answer he would give to a question, which, however decided by him, would expose him to censure. Is it lawful - for every cause? - Instead of αιτιαν, fault, cause, reason, three MSS. and the Coptic version read αμαρτιαν, sin or transgression: this was probably the original reading - the first syllable being lost, αρτιαν alone would remain, which a subsequent transcriber would suppose to be a mistake for αιτιαν, and so wrote it; hence this various reading. What made our Lord's situation at present so critical in respect to this question was: At this time there were two famous divinity and philosophical schools among the Jews, that of Shammai, and that of Hillel. On the question of divorce, the school of Shammai maintained, that a man could not legally put away his wife, except for whoredom. The school of Hillel taught that a man might put away his wife for a multitude of other causes, and when she did not find grace in his sight; i.e. when he saw any other woman that pleased him better. See the case of Josephus, mentioned in the note on Mat 5:31 (note), and Calmet's Comment, vol. i. part ii. p. 379. By answering the question, not from Shammai or Hillel, but from Moses, our blessed Lord defeated their malice, and confounded their devices.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 19:3-12
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 pointing out that every departure therefrom was wrong. That condition is best for us, and to be chosen and kept to accordingly, which is best for our souls, and tends most to prepare us for, and preserve us to, the kingdom of heaven. When the gospel is really embraced, it makes men kind relatives and faithful friends; it teaches them to bear the burdens, and to bear with the infirmities of those with whom they are connected, to consider their peace and happiness more than their own. As to ungodly persons, it is proper that they should be restrained by laws, from breaking the peace of society. And we learn that the married state should be entered upon with great seriousness and earnest prayer.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 19:3 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
προσῆλθονprosēlthoncameG4334
αὐτῷautōto HimG846
ΦαρισαῖοιPharisaioiPhariseesG5330
πειράζοντεςpeirazontestestingG3985
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
καὶkaiandG2532
λέγοντεςlegontessayingG3004
εἰeiIfG1487
ἔξεστινexestinis it lawfulG1832
ἀνθρώπῳanthrōpōfor a manG444
ἀπολῦσαιapolusaito divorceG630
τὴνtēntheG3588
γυναῖκαgunaikaa wifeG1135
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
κατὰkataforG2596
πᾶσανpasaneveryG3956
αἰτίαν;¶aitiancause?G156

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

Cross references for Matthew 19:3

  • Mark 10:2

    And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

  • Hebrews 3:9

    When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

  • Luke 11:53-54

    And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

  • Mark 12:15

    Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

  • Matthew 5:31-32

    It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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.

  • Matthew 22:16-18

    And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

  • Matthew 22:35

    Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

  • Mark 12:13

    And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

  • John 8:6

    This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

  • Matthew 16:1

    The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

  • Malachi 2:14-16

    Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
tempting.
16:1; 22:16-18,35; Mr 10:2; 12:13,15; Lu 11:53,54; Joh 8:6; Heb 3:9
Is it.
5:31,32; Mal 2:14-16

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

Context

  • Matthew 19:2

    And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

  • Matthew 19:3

    The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

  • Matthew 19:4

    And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

Read all of Matthew 19

Matthew 19:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces se llegaron á él los Fariseos, tentándole, y diciéndole: ¿Es lícito al hombre repudiar á su mujer por cualquiera causa?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les pharisiens vinrent à lui, l’éprouvant et lui disant: Est-il permis à un homme de répudier sa femme pour quelque cause que ce soit?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Pharisäer kamen zu ihm, versuchten ihn und sprachen: Ist es einem Manne erlaubt, aus jeder Ursache sein Weib zu entlassen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et accesserunt ad eum pharisæi tentantes eum, et dicentes: Si licet homini dimittere uxorem suam, quacumque ex causa?