Matthew 19:9 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus teaches that divorce and remarriage, apart from the cause of marital unfaithfulness, breaks the marriage bond.
What Does Matthew 19:9 Mean?
With "I say unto you," Jesus speaks on His own authority, raising the standard above the loose practice of His day. Apart from the grave breach of sexual unfaithfulness, to put away one's spouse and marry another violates the one-flesh union He has just described. He treats the marriage bond as real and weighty before God.
The teaching is sobering, yet it flows from love for the covenant God made sacred. Jesus protects the vulnerable from being discarded "for every cause" and calls His followers to faithfulness that mirrors God's own. He sets a high and holy standard, not to crush, but to honor what God has joined. Those who fall short find in this same Christ the mercy that restores.
Matthew 19:9 in the Original Language
porneia (πορνεία), 'fornication' -- sexual immorality, a breach that strikes at the heart of the marriage union.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 19:9
What does Matthew 19:9 mean?
Jesus teaches that divorce and remarriage, apart from the cause of marital unfaithfulness, breaks the marriage bond.