If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Parallel Translations
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If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.”
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And yf a woman forsake her husband and be maryed to another she comitteth advoutrie.
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And if a woman put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adulterie.
Cross-references (2)
Passages linked to Mark 10:12 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Corinthians 7:11 (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.
- 1 Corinthians 7:13 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (7 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 12 And if a woman shall put away her…
12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Ver. 12. And if a woman have put away] No such thing was permitted by Moses, but usurped by the women of those licentious times. Among Turks the woman may sue a divorce; but only then when her husband would abuse her against nature. (Blount’s Voyage.)
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And they brought young children to him,.... The parents,…
And they brought young children to him,.... The parents, or friends, or nurses of the children in those parts, having heard of the fame of Jesus; and having entertained an high opinion of him, as a great prophet, and a holy, good man, brought their children in their arms, or hands,
that he should touch them; as he did when he healed diseased persons, as these might be, though not expressed:
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and his disciples rebuked those that brought them; See Gill on Mat 19:13.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 12. And if a woman shall put away…
Verse 12. And if a woman shall put away her husband] From this it appears that in some cases, the wife assumed the very same right of divorcing her husband that the husband had of divorcing his wife; and yet this is not recorded any where in the Jewish laws, as far as I can find, that the women had such a right. Indeed, were the law which gives the permission all on one side, it would be unjust and oppressive; but where it is equally balanced, the right being the same on each side, it must serve as a mutual check, and prevent those evils it is intended to cure. Among the Jews there are several instances of the women having taken other men, even during the life of their own husbands. Nor do we find any law by which they were punished. Divorce never should be permitted but on this ground-"The parties are miserable together, and they are both perfectly willing to be separated." Then, if every thing else be proper, let them go different ways, that they may not ruin both themselves and their hapless offspring.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain (See notes on Mat_19:1-12.)
§ 103. — JESUS HAVING LEFT GALILEE, IN PEREA, DISCUSSES THE LAW OF MARRIAGE.
(See notes on Mat_19:1-12.)
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12. If a woman — By the Mosaic law the woman seems to have had no legal right to divorce her husband. Yet several instances appear in Jewish history, of a woman’s abandoning her husband and marrying another during the first husband’s life; nor does there seem to have been any law to punish such wickedness. Jesus virtually puts both sexes on a level in the Christian dispensation. Neither has a right to divorce for other cause than unchasteness, and neither, so divorced, has a right to marry again.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (12) And if a woman shall put away.—This also…
(12) And if a woman shall put away.—This also is peculiar to St. Mark, and it is noticeable, as being the only passage in our Lord’s teaching which distinctly states the case referred to, and passes sentence on the wife who divorces her husband and marries again, as well as on the husband who divorces his wife, and the wife who is so divorced. All three cases are dealt with on the same grounds: (1) that the marriage relationship ought to be indissoluble, and that one cause only justifies or permits its dissolution; and (2) that any further permission of divorce is but a concession to the hardness of men’s hearts for the avoidance of greater evils.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain This verse should be read thus: And if she…
This verse should be read thus: And if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery kai ea apolusasa tosh allon moicatai ..
This reading is well supported. These words indicate that, according to our blessed Lord"s teaching, wives and husbands have equal rights in reference to divorce; and so the Greek, according to the best authorities, is (gamhsh ) "shall marry," not (gamhyh) "shall be married." Josephus, however, makes it evident that in his time husband and wife had by no means equal rights in these matters ("Antiq." 15:7, 10).
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 12. If a woman shall put away her husband.…
12. If a woman shall put away her husband. This was allowed by the Greek and Roman law (1 Cor. 7:13), but not by the Jewish. Christ applies his principles to either sex on the same footing.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.