Matthew 5:31
“It hath beene said, Whosoeuer shall put away his wife, let him giue her a writing of diuorcement.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
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Matthew 5:31 Context
29And if thy right eie offend thee, plucke it out, and cast it from thee. For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31It hath beene said, Whosoeuer shall put away his wife, let him giue her a writing of diuorcement. 32But I say vnto you, that whosoeuer shall put away his wife, sauing for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoeuer shall marie her that is diuorced, committeth adulterie. 33¶ Againe, yee haue heard that it hath beene said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe, but shalt performe vnto the Lord thine othes.
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Other Translations
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- King James Version
"It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';
- New American Standard Version (1995)
It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- American Standard Version (1901)
Again, it was said, Whoever puts away his wife has to give her a statement in writing for this purpose:
- Basic English Bible
It has been said too, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a letter of divorce.
- Darby Bible
It hath been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- Webster's Bible
It was also said, `If any man puts away his wife, let him give her a written notice of divorce.'
- Weymouth Bible
It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'
- World English Bible
And it hath be seyd, Who euere leeueth his wijf, yyue he to hir a libel of forsakyng.
- Wycliffe Bible
`And it was said, That whoever may put away his wife, let him give to her a writing of divorce;
- Youngs Literal Bible
- King James Version
"It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';
- New American Standard Version (1995)
It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- American Standard Version (1901)
Again, it was said, Whoever puts away his wife has to give her a statement in writing for this purpose:
- Basic English Bible
It has been said too, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a letter of divorce.
- Darby Bible
It hath been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- Webster's Bible
It was also said, `If any man puts away his wife, let him give her a written notice of divorce.'
- Weymouth Bible
It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'
- World English Bible
And it hath be seyd, Who euere leeueth his wijf, yyue he to hir a libel of forsakyng.
- Wycliffe Bible
`And it was said, That whoever may put away his wife, let him give to her a writing of divorce;
- Youngs Literal Bible
Bible commentary
Wesley's Notes for Matthew 5:31
5:31 Let him give her a writing of divorce - Which the scribes and Pharisees allowed men to do on any trifling occasion. #Deut 24:1; Matt 19:7; Mark 10:2; Luke 16:18|.
People's Bible Notes for Matthew 5:31
Mt 5:31,32 Whosoever shall put away his wife. The divorce laws were very lax among the Jews. A man could put away his wife "for any cause" (Mt 19:8). Moses directed a legal letter of divorcement (De 24:1). Christ positively forbids divorce except for unchastity. Marriage is a divine institution, and the obligation is for life (Mt 19:3-9; Ro 7:1-3 1Co 7:10-17).