Matthew 19:8

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

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.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.

WEB World English Bible

He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.

ASV American Standard Version

He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

He saith to them—‘Moses for your stiffness of heart did suffer you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it hath not been so.

Surrounding context — Matthew 19

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

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

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

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.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except [it be] for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All [men] cannot receive this saying, save [they] to whom it is given.

Read the whole chapter → · About Matthew →

Topics connected to this verse

Original-language word links

These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.

Cross-references

Malachi 2:13-14And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth [it] with good will at your hand.Genesis 2:24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.Mark 10:5And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.Zechariah 7:12Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.Jeremiah 6:16Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].1 Corinthians 7:6But I speak this by permission, [and] not of commandment.Genesis 7:7And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.Matthew 3:15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.Matthew 8:31So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.Psalm 95:8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [and] as [in] the day of temptation in the wilderness:

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION

Compare classic commentaries on Matthew 19:8

Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.

Compare commentaries →