Matthew 19:3 Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"

◄ Matthew 19:3 ►

New International Version
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

New Living Translation
Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

English Standard Version
And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”

Berean Standard Bible
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

Berean Literal Bible
And Pharisees came to Him, testing Him and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?"

King James Bible
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

New King James Version
The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

New American Standard Bible
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?”

NASB 1995
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?”

NASB 1977
And some Pharisees came to Him, testing Him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?”

Amplified Bible
And Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

Christian Standard Bible
Some Pharisees approached him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?”

American Standard Version
And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Contemporary English Version
Some Pharisees wanted to test Jesus. They came up to him and asked, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"

English Revised Version
And there came unto him Pharisees, tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, "Can a man divorce his wife for any reason?"

Good News Translation
Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him by asking, "Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?"

International Standard Version
Some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"

Majority Standard Bible
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, ?Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason??

NET Bible
Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?"

New Heart English Bible
And Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying to him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce a wife for any reason?"

Webster's Bible Translation
The Pharisees also came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Weymouth New Testament
Then came some of the Pharisees to Him to put Him to the proof by the question, "Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses?"

World English Bible
Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the Pharisees came near to Him, tempting Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?”

Berean Literal Bible
And Pharisees came to Him, testing Him and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?"

Young's Literal Translation
And the Pharisees came near to him, tempting him, and saying to him, 'Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to loose his wife for every cause.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Pharisees approached him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to separate from his wife, no matter what the cause?”

New American Bible
Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”

New Revised Standard Version
Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the Pharisees came up to him and were tempting him and saying, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Pharisees came to him and they were testing him, and they were saying, “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And the Pharisees came to him to tempt him, and said to him: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Godbey New Testament
And the Pharisees came to Him, tempting Him, and saying to Him; Is it lawful for a man to send away his wife for any cause?

Haweis New Testament
And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Mace New Testament
The Pharisees likewise came to him, and maliciously propos'd this question, may a man lawfully put away his wife at discretion?

Weymouth New Testament
Then came some of the Pharisees to Him to put Him to the proof by the question, "Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses?"

Worrell New Testament
And the Pharisees came to Him, tempting Him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause"

Worsley New Testament
And the pharisees came to Him to ensnare Him, and asked Him, whether it was lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Teachings about Divorce
…2Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. 3Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 4Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Mark 10:2-12
Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired. / “What did Moses command you?” He replied. / They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.” ...

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, ...

Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Malachi 2:14-16
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

Ephesians 5:31
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

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.

Luke 16:18
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

1 Corinthians 7:39
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

Romans 7:2-3
For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

Genesis 2:18-23
The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.” / And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. / The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ...

1 Corinthians 6:16
Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Leviticus 21:7
A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.

Treasury of Scripture

The Pharisees also came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

tempting.

Matthew 16:1
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

Matthew 22:16-18,35
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men…

Mark 10:2
And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

Is it.

Matthew 5:31,32
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: …

Malachi 2:14-16
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant…

Jump to Previous

Cause Chooses Divorce Jesus Lawful One's Pharisees Proof Question Reason Right Tempting Test Tested Testing Trying Whenever Wife

Jump to Next

Cause Chooses Divorce Jesus Lawful One's Pharisees Proof Question Reason Right Tempting Test Tested Testing Trying Whenever Wife

Matthew 19

1. Jesus heals the sick;
3. answers the Pharisees concerning divorce;
10. shows when marriage is necessary;
13. receives the little children;
16. instructs the young man how to attain eternal life;
20. and how to be perfect;
23. tells his disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God;
27. and promises reward to those who forsake all to follow him.

Berean Study Bible

Some Pharisees
The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judaism during the time of Jesus. Known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and oral traditions, they often clashed with Jesus over interpretations of the law. The Greek word "Pharisaioi" indicates a sect that prided itself on piety and knowledge of the law. Historically, the Pharisees were influential in the synagogues and among the common people, often seen as the religious elite who sought to maintain Jewish identity under Roman rule.

came to test Him
The phrase "came to test Him" reveals the Pharisees' intentions. The Greek word "peirazō" means to test or tempt, often with malicious intent. This was not a genuine inquiry but a strategic move to trap Jesus in a theological or legal error. The historical context shows that religious leaders frequently challenged Jesus, hoping to discredit Him among His followers or to find grounds for accusation.

They asked
The act of asking here is more than a simple question; it is a calculated challenge. The Greek "erōtaō" implies a formal inquiry, often used in legal or scholarly settings. This reflects the Pharisees' role as authorities in religious law, attempting to assert their dominance over Jesus by questioning His teachings.

Is it lawful
The question of legality refers to the Mosaic Law, which governed Jewish life. The Greek "exesti" means permissible or allowed, indicating a focus on what is sanctioned by the law. This reflects the Pharisees' concern with legalistic righteousness, emphasizing adherence to the letter of the law rather than its spirit.

for a man to divorce his wife
Divorce was a contentious issue in Jewish society, with different schools of thought interpreting the law's allowances. The Greek "apoluō" means to release or send away, highlighting the act of separation. Historically, the debate centered around Deuteronomy 24:1, where Moses permitted divorce under certain conditions. The Pharisees' question probes Jesus' stance on this divisive issue.

for any reason
This phrase captures the heart of the debate. The Greek "kata pasan aitian" suggests a broad interpretation, allowing divorce for trivial reasons. The historical context reveals that the school of Hillel permitted divorce for almost any cause, while the school of Shammai restricted it to cases of serious transgression. The Pharisees' question seeks to position Jesus within this debate, testing His adherence to or deviation from traditional interpretations.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?--See Note on Matthew 5:32. So far as the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount had become known, it gave a sufficiently clear answer to the inquiry of the Pharisees. It is, however, quite conceivable that it had not reached the ears of those who now put the question, or, that if it had, they wished to test His consistency, and to see whether on this point He still held with the stricter rule of Shammai, and not with the laxer rule of Hillel. If the narrative of the woman taken in adultery in John 8:1-11 be rightly placed (see Note on that passage). that might have given rise to doubts and rumours. Would He who dealt so pitifully with the adulteress have sanctioned divorce even in that case, or pronounced the marriage bond absolutely indissoluble? Or was His apparent tolerance of that offender indicative of a lower standard as to the obligations of marriage? In any case, they might hope to bring Him into conflict either with the stricter or the more popular school of casuists. An illustration of what has been stated in Matthew 5:32 may be found in the fact that the Jewish historian Josephus records how he had divorced two wives on grounds comparatively trivial (Life, c. 75, 76), and speaks incidentally in his history of "many causes of all kinds" as justifying separation (Ant. iv. 8, ? 23). We do not know on what grounds Herod Antipas had divorced the daughter of Aretas, but it is probable enough that here, as afterwards, the Herodian party were working with the Pharisees. Here, in Peraea, they might count, either on the Teacher shrinking from expressing His convictions, or so uttering them as to provoke the tetrarch's wrath, as the Baptist had done. In either case, a point would have been gained against Him.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - We have now to listen to our Lord's teaching respecting divorce and marriage. The Pharisees. The article is better omitted. Our Lord was not long left in peace by these inveterate enemies, who, if they could not openly persecute him, might hope to extract something from his words and sentiments which might be used to his disadvantage. They were probably envoys sent from Jerusalem to entrap and annoy him. Tempting him. Trying to get him to give an answer which would in any case afford a handle for malicious misrepresentation. The question proposed concerned divorce. To put away his wife forevery cause; κατὰ πᾶσαν αἰτίαν: quacumque ex causa; for any cause whatever. This was a delicate question to raise in the domains of Herod Antipas (see Matthew 14:3, 4), and one greatly debated in the rabbinical schools. Our Lord had already twice pronounced upon the subject, once in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:32), and again when reasoning with the Pharisees on the due observance of the Law (Luke 16:18). Two opposite opinions were held by the followers of Hillel and Schammai, the heads of antagonistic schools. The school of Hillel contended that a man might divorce his wife for various causes quite unconnected with infringement of the marriage vow, e.g., because he had ceased to love her, or had seen some one whom he liked better, or even because she cooked his dinner badly. The school of Schammai was more strict, and permitted divorce only in case of fornication, adultery, or some offence against chastity. Between these contending parties the Pharisees desired to make our Lord give a decision, thinking that they had fixed him in a dilemma. If he took the popular lax view, they could deride his claims as a Teacher of superior morality; if he upheld the stricter side, he would rouse the enmity of the majority, and possibly, like John the Baptist, involve himself in trouble with the licentious tetrarch. There was a chance also that the high tone which he had already taken might prove to be at variance with Mosaic enactments. The easiness with which divorce was obtained may be seen in Josephus, Who thus writes: "He who for any reason whatsoever (and many such causes happen to men) wishes to be separated from a wife who lives with him, must give it to her in writing that he will cohabit with her no longer, and by this means she shall have liberty to marry another man; but before this is done it is not permitted her to do so" ('Ant.,' 4:08, 23). Josephus himself repudiated his own wife because he was not pleased with her behaviour ('Vita,' § 76). And Ben-Sira gives the curt injunction, "If she go not as thou wouldest have her (κατὰ χεῖρά σου), cut her off from thy flesh,... and let her go" (Ecclus. 25:26).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[some] Pharisees
Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

came
προσῆλθον (prosēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4334: From pros and erchomai; to approach, i.e. come near, visit, or worship, assent to.

[and] tested
πειράζοντες (peirazontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3985: To try, tempt, test. From peira; to test, i.e. Endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline.

Him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

by asking
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

vvv,
Εἰ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

“Is it lawful
ἔξεστιν (exestin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1832: It is permitted, lawful, possible.

for a man
ἀνθρώπῳ (anthrōpō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

to divorce
ἀπολῦσαι (apolysai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 630: From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

wife
γυναῖκα (gynaika)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1135: A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.

for
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

any
πᾶσαν (pasan)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

reason?”
αἰτίαν (aitian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 156: From the same as aiteo; a cause, i.e. reason, crime.

Links

Matthew 19:3 NIV
Matthew 19:3 NLT
Matthew 19:3 ESV
Matthew 19:3 NASB
Matthew 19:3 KJV

Matthew 19:3 BibleApps.com
Matthew 19:3 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 19:3 Chinese Bible
Matthew 19:3 French Bible
Matthew 19:3 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Matthew 19:3 Pharisees came to him testing him (Matt. Mat Mt)