Matthew 5:31

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[a]

Matthew 5:31 in Other Translations

KJV
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
ESV
31 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
NLT
31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’
MSG
31 "Remember the Scripture that says, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights'?
CSB
31 "It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.

Matthew 5:31 In-Context

29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’

Cross References 1

  • 1. Deuteronomy 24:1-4

Footnotes 1

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.