Can One Divorce and Why

A recent email suggested that my articles might encourage and promote divorce. In no way do I want to suggest that divorce be considered a trivial matter. Christ let us know plainly how he (God) sees divorce.

Mark 10:5 And answering, Jesus said to them, With respect to your hardheartedness he wrote this command to you.
6 But from the beginning of creation "God made them male and female."
7 "Because of this, a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife,
8 and the two shall be one flesh;" so that they no longer are two, but one flesh.
9 Therefore, what God yoked together, let not man put apart.

We do not live in a perfect world and although we are forgiven we are not perfect people. So divorce is allowed because of a lack of coverature as we shall see below.

Deuteronomy 24:1 "When a man has taken a wife and married her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found a thing of uncleanness in her, and he writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house;"

Notice the word uncleanness. Here is what it means in the Hebrew.

'ervah From H6168; nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish).

Nudity implies that the woman has removed herself from her husband's coverature. She has no respect for her husband. In the husband's case when he loses respect for his wife he removes his coverature for his wife. In either case the wife becomes uncovered. So as Deuteronomy 24:1 teaches, divorce is allowed for this reason. I am sure that some can think back and realize that for whatever reason a divorce may have occurred a lack of respect was the actual basis for the divorce. A lack of respect is the reason scripture gives for divorce.

I might mention that in the book of Jasher Abraham told his son Ishmael to divorce his first wife due to her lack of respect for Ishmael. It also says that she beat the children.

Scriptural divorce is unnecessary with marital adultery as the act itself breaks the marriage contract. However since God gave the house of Israel a divorce when he sent her into the Assyrian captivity I would recommend doing likewise.

One last note is that many at this point remind themselves that this is old testament and that now we are under the new covenant. In the Hebrew and Greek there is no difference in the doctrine of marriage and divorce. The English translations have totally confused the matter. So as with many other things there is more to this. Please take a look at the other articles on this subject at this site.

Note: The word favor in Deuteronomy 24:1 means "graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty)".


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MDR Articles.

Can One Divorce and Why

Can the Divorced Marry Again?

Abuse: Can an Abused Woman Remarry?

Matthew 19

Mark 10

Words Mean Things!

What the Bible says on Divorce and Putting Away. (An in depth look.)

What Constitutes Adultery?

What is Fornication?

To Bear Children or Not to Bear

Abortion: Choice or Murder?

Elders, Deacons and "One Wife"

Let each have her own husband!

Did Abraham Really Marry His Sister?

The Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage of God to Israel


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