Mark 10:4
Mark 10:4 in Multiple Translations
They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
And they said to him, Moses let us give her a statement in writing, and be free from her.
“Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and send the woman away,” they replied.
And they sayd, Moses suffered to write a bill of diuorcement, and to put her away.
and they said, 'Moses suffered to write a bill of divorce, and to put away.'
They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.”
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
Who said: Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away.
One of them replied, “Moses permitted that a man may write on paper his reason for divorcing his wife, give this paper to her, and then send her away.”
The Pharisee mob said, “Moses wrote a law like this, ‘A man can split up from his wife. That man has to write a divorce letter to say she is not his wife any more. He has to give that letter to his wife, and then he can force her to go away.’”
Berean Amplified Bible — Mark 10:4
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Mark 10:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Mark 10:4
Study Notes — Mark 10:4
Context — Teachings about Divorce
4They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart. 6However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 24:1–4 | If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, then the husband who divorced her first may not remarry her after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination to the LORD. You must not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. |
| 2 | Matthew 5:31–32 | It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 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. |
| 3 | Isaiah 50:1 | This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. |
| 4 | Matthew 19:7 | “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away? ” |
| 5 | Matthew 1:19 | Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 3:1 | “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers— and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD. |
Mark 10:4 Summary
In this verse, the Pharisees are talking about a law that Moses gave, which allowed a man to divorce his wife by giving her a special paper. This law was not what God originally intended, but it was given because of the hardness of people's hearts, as Jesus explains in Mark 10:5. Jesus wants us to understand that God's plan for marriage is for one man and one woman to be together, as seen in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24. By looking at what Jesus says in Mark 10:5-9, we can learn more about God's heart and intentions for marriage and relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the phrase 'certificate of divorce' mean in this verse?
The phrase 'certificate of divorce' refers to a formal document that a husband would give to his wife to officially end their marriage, as permitted by Moses in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. This was a way of recognizing the end of a marriage in the eyes of the law and society.
Why did the Pharisees mention Moses' teaching on divorce?
The Pharisees mentioned Moses' teaching on divorce to try to trap Jesus into taking a side on a controversial issue, but Jesus used the opportunity to teach about God's original design for marriage, as seen in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24.
Is the certificate of divorce still relevant today?
While the specific practice of giving a certificate of divorce is not directly applicable today, the underlying issue of divorce and God's design for marriage is still relevant, and Jesus' teaching in Mark 10:5-9 and other passages like Matthew 19:3-9 and Ephesians 5:31 provides guidance for Christians on these issues.
What can we learn from the Pharisees' response to Jesus' question?
The Pharisees' response shows that they were focused on the letter of the law and human traditions, rather than seeking to understand God's heart and intentions, as Jesus taught in Mark 7:6-8 and Matthew 15:3-6.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be focusing on the 'letter of the law' rather than God's heart and intentions in my own life?
- How can I apply Jesus' teaching on marriage and divorce to my own relationships and interactions with others?
- What does this verse reveal about the Pharisees' understanding of God's law, and how can I avoid similar misunderstandings in my own study of Scripture?
- In what ways can I seek to understand God's original design for marriage, as seen in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24, and how can I apply that to my own life and relationships?
Gill's Exposition on Mark 10:4
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Mark 10:4
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Mark 10:4
Trapp's Commentary on Mark 10:4
Ellicott's Commentary on Mark 10:4
Sermons on Mark 10:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Through the Bible) Jeremiah 3-5 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for people to turn away from worldly distractions and dedicate themselves fully to God and spiritual matters. He quotes from the bo |
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Jesus Teaches About Divorce and Remarriage Matthew 19:1-9 by David Servant | David Servant delves into the topic of divorce and remarriage, exploring the differing views among religious teachers during Jesus' time and Jesus' teachings on the matter. He emph |
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Day 75, Mark 10 by David Servant | David Servant addresses the contentious topic of divorce and remarriage, urging listeners to carefully consider all that Scripture teaches on the subject and to avoid interpretatio |
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Sermon on the Mount: Jesus Speaks About Divorce by J. Glyn Owen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the painful subject of divorce and the dissolution of marriage. He emphasizes the importance of honoring marriage as a divine institution and |
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Marriage and Divorce - Part 2 by Don Courville | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the deception and decline of our society since 1963, when God was rejected and the Word of God was neglected. The speaker highlights four majo |
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Marriage by Don McClure | In this sermon, the preacher begins by discussing the transformation that occurs in a person's life through the Beatitudes. He then moves on to describe the qualities of someone wh |
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The Law of God and Your Word by Dick Woodward | In this lesson from the Mini Bible College, the teacher focuses on the importance of our words and how we should communicate our commitment to God and others. The teacher reference |






