Matthew 19 · Verse 7

Matthew 19:7

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Matthew 19:7, King James Version

Matthew 19:7 in other translations

BSB“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
WEBThey asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”
ASVThey say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?
YLTThey say to him, ‘Why then did Moses command to give a roll of divorce, and to put her away?'
DARBYThey say to him, Why then did Moses command to give a letter of divorce and to send her away?
BBEThey say to him, Why then did Moses give orders that a husband might give her a statement in writing and be free from her?
WebsterThey say to him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

What does Matthew 19:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. Why did Moses, etc. To this they objected that Moses had allowed such divorces, De 24:1 and if he had allowed them, they inferred that they could not be unlawful. Mt 5:31.

(e) "Why did Moses" De 24:1, Isa 1:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement? - It is not an unusual case for the impure and unholy to seek for a justification of their conduct from the law of God itself, and to wrest Scripture to their own destruction. I knew a gentleman, so called, who professed deep reverence for the sacred writings, and, strange as it may appear, was outwardly irreproachable in every respect but one; that was, he kept more women than his wife. This man frequently read the Bible, and was particularly conversant with those places that spoke of or seemed to legalize the polygamy of the patriarchs! A writing of divorcement - See the form of it in the note on Mat 5:31 (note).

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…

Read the full comment on Matthew 19:3-12 →

Matthew 19:7 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.

ΛέγουσινLegousinThey sayG3004
αὐτῷ·autōto Him;G846
τίtiWhyG5101
οὖνounthenG3767
ΜωϋσῆςMōusēsMosesG3475
ἐνετείλατοeneteilatodid commandG1781
δοῦναιdounaito giveG1325
βιβλίονbibliona rollG975
ἀποστασίουapostasiouof divorceG647
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀπολῦσαιapolusaito send awayG630
αὐτήν;¶autēnher?G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 19:7

  • 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.

  • Matthew 5:31

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

  • Mark 10:4

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

  • Malachi 2:16

    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.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 3:8

    And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

  • Isaiah 50:1

    Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Why.
5:31; De 24:1-4; Isa 50:1; Jer 3:8; Mr 10:4
and to.
1:19; Mal 2:16

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

Context

  • Matthew 19:6

    Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

  • Matthew 19:7

    They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

  • Matthew 19:8

    He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Read all of Matthew 19

Matthew 19:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Dícenle: ¿Por qué, pues, Moisés mandó dar carta de divorcio, y repudiarla?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ils lui disent: Pourquoi donc Moïse a-t-il commandé de donner une lettre de divorce, et de la répudier?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie sagen zu ihm: Warum hat denn Moses geboten, einen Scheidebrief zu geben und sie zu entlassen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dicunt illi: Quid ergo Moyses mandavit dare libellum repudii, et dimittere?