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◄ Mark 10:4►

New International Version
They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

New Living Translation
“Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.”

English Standard Version
They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”

Berean Standard Bible
They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

Berean Literal Bible
And they said, "Moses permitted to write a roll of divorce, and to sendher away."

King James Bible
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to puther away.

New King James Version
They said, “Moses permitteda man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismissher.”

New American Standard Bible
They said, “Moses permitteda man to write a certificate of divorce and sendhis wife away.”

NASB 1995
They said, “Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY.”

NASB 1977
And they said, “Moses permitteda man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SENDher AWAY.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And they said, “Moses permitteda man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SENDher AWAY.”

Amplified Bible
They said, “Moses alloweda man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND TO SEND HER AWAY.”

Christian Standard Bible
They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.”

American Standard Version
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

Contemporary English Version
They answered, "Moses allows a man to write out divorce papers and send his wife away."

English Revised Version
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They said, "Moses allowed a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her."

Good News Translation
Their answer was, "Moses gave permission for a man to write a divorce notice and send his wife away."

International Standard Version
They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to divorce her."

NET Bible
They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her."

New Heart English Bible
They said, "Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her."

Webster's Bible Translation
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

Weymouth New Testament
"Moses," they said, "permitted a man to draw up a written notice of divorce, and to send his wife away."

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

World English Bible
They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they said, “Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to put away.”

Berean Literal Bible
And they said, "Moses permitted to write a roll of divorce, and to sendher away."

Young's Literal Translation
and they said, 'Moses suffered to write a bill of divorce, and to put away.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they said, Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to loose.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who said: Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they said, “Moses gave permission to write a bill of divorce and to dismiss her.”

New American Bible
They replied, “Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.”

New Revised Standard Version
They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
They said, Moses gave us permission to write a letter of separation, and then to divorce.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But they said, “Moses allowed us to write a letter of divorce and we may get a divorce.”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
They replied: Moses permitted us to write a bill of divorce, and put her away.

Godbey New Testament
And they said, Moses permitted to write a book of divorcement, and to send her away.

Haweis New Testament
They said, Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away.

Mace New Testament
Moses, said they, allowed a bill of divorce, and so to dismiss her.

Weymouth New Testament
"Moses," they said, "permitted a man to draw up a written notice of divorce, and to send his wife away."

Worrell New Testament
And they said, "Moses permitted to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away."

Worsley New Testament
And they said, Moses permitteda man to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Teachings about Divorce
…3“What did Moses command you?” He replied.4 They answered,“Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”5But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Matthew 19:7-8
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” / Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.

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, ...

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 7:10-11
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.

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.

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.

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.

Ephesians 5:31-33
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” / This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. / Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

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.

Exodus 20:14
You shall not commit adultery.

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.

Jeremiah 3:1
“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.

Hosea 2:2
Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.

1 Timothy 4:1-3
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. / They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Treasury of Scripture

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away.

Deuteronomy 24:1-4
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and giveit in her hand, and send her out of his house…

Isaiah 50:1
Thus saith the LORD, Whereis the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditorsis it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Jeremiah 3:1
They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

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Mark 10

1.Jesus disputes with the Pharisees concerning divorce;
13.blesses the children that are brought unto him;
17.resolves a rich man how he may inherit everlasting life;
23.tells his disciples of the danger of riches;
28.promises rewards to those who forsake all for the gospel;
32.foretells his death and resurrection;
35.bids the two ambitious suitors to think rather of suffering with him;
46.and restores to Bartimaeus his sight.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

They answered,
This phrase indicates a response to a question posed by Jesus. The context is a discussion about the legality and morality of divorce, a topic of significant debate among Jewish religious leaders of the time. The Pharisees, who are responding here, often engaged in such debates to test Jesus and challenge His teachings.

“Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce
This refers toDeuteronomy 24:1-4, where Moses provided regulations concerning divorce. The certificate of divorce was a legal document that allowed a woman to remarry, offering her some protection in a patriarchal society. The Pharisees' reference to Moses highlights the authority of the Mosaic Law in Jewish life and underscores the tension between the letter of the law and its spirit. This regulation was given due to the hardness of human hearts, as Jesus later explains, indicating a concession rather than an ideal.

and send her away.”
The phrase "send her away" reflects the cultural practice of the time, where men held the primary authority in marital relationships. Divorce was relatively easy for men to initiate, often leaving women vulnerable. This practice is contrasted with Jesus' teachings on the sanctity and permanence of marriage, as He emphasizes God's original design for marriage in Genesis. The cultural context of first-century Judea, where women had limited rights, is crucial to understanding the radical nature of Jesus' subsequent teachings on marriage and divorce.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Jesus
The central figure in the Gospel of Mark, who is teaching about the sanctity of marriage in this passage.

2.Pharisees
A religious group in Judaism known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses. They are questioning Jesus to test Him.

3.Moses
The prophet and lawgiver in the Old Testament who provided the Israelites with the Law, including regulations on divorce.

4.Certificate of Divorce
A legal document mentioned in the Mosaic Law that allowed a man to divorce his wife.

Teaching Points

Understanding the Context of the Law
The Pharisees reference Moses' allowance for divorce, but Jesus points back to God's original design for marriage. It's crucial to understand the context and purpose of the Law, which was to manage human sinfulness, not to endorse it.

God's Design for Marriage
Jesus emphasizes that marriage is meant to be a permanent union. This teaching calls believers to honor and uphold the sanctity of marriage as God intended from the beginning.

The Hardness of Heart
Jesus attributes the allowance for divorce to the hardness of human hearts. This highlights the need for believers to seek transformation and softening of their hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Grace and Truth in Relationships
While upholding the truth about marriage, believers are also called to extend grace and compassion to those who have experienced divorce, recognizing the complexities of human relationships.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Mark 10:4?

2.What did Moses permit regarding divorce according to Mark 10:4?

3.How does Mark 10:4 relate to God's original design for marriage?

4.Why did Moses allow a "certificate of divorce" in Mark 10:4?

5.How can we apply Jesus' teaching on marriage in Mark 10 today?

6.What other scriptures reinforce the sanctity of marriage as seen in Mark 10:4?

7.What does Mark 10:4 reveal about the biblical view on divorce?

8.How does Mark 10:4 align with Jesus' teachings on marriage?

9.Why did Moses permit divorce according to Mark 10:4?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 10?

11.Is a second marriage considered adultery?

12.What does 'let no one separate' mean?

13.Why does Jesus' strict stance on divorce in Mark 10:2-12 appear to contradict earlier Jewish law that allowed it?

14.Stephen states Moses was 'mighty in words' (Acts 7:22), but Exodus 4:10 depicts Moses as slow of speech. How do we reconcile these descriptions?

What Does Mark 10:4 Mean

They answered

- The Pharisees respond to Jesus’ question about what Moses commanded (Mark 10:3), revealing the debate was not about God’s original design but about permissible loopholes.

- Their answer shows they knewDeuteronomy 24:1–4, yet they chose a concession rather than God’s intention first set inGenesis 2:24.

- By citing Moses, they attempt to anchor their position in Scripture, yetMatthew 19:7–8 records Jesus exposing the hardness of heart behind that concession.

Moses permitted

-Deuteronomy 24:1 begins, “If a man marries a woman but she becomes displeasing to him… he may write her a certificate of divorce.” Moses did not command divorce; he “permitted” it to regulate broken marriages and protect women from worse outcomes.

- Jesus clarifies inMark 10:5 that this permission was “because of your hardness of heart.” Permission is not endorsement; it is divine accommodation to human sin.

- God’s unchanging standard still holds: “What God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mark 10:9).

A man to write his wife

- Responsibility rests on the husband; he initiates covenant, and, tragically, he can initiate its dissolution.

- Scripture consistently places headship alongside accountability (Ephesians 5:25–28).

- The verse reminds every husband that his choices affect his wife’s future, echoingMalachi 2:14 where the Lord calls marriage a covenant “with your wife.”

A certificate of divorce

- The certificate served several purposes:

• Prevented impulsive abandonment by requiring formal action.

• Provided legal freedom for the woman to remarry, shielding her from accusations of adultery (Deuteronomy 24:2).

• Documented the husband’s decision, making future reconciliation more deliberate.

- Though protective in function, it also underscored the tragic reality of a broken covenant, contrasting God’s hatred of divorce inMalachi 2:16.

And send her away

- “Send her away” reflects the severing of a one-flesh union (Genesis 2:24) that God intended to be lifelong.

- The phrase carries weight: relational, economic, and spiritual loss for the woman, who often had limited means of support (Ruth 1:8–9 illustrates vulnerability after marital loss).

- Jesus’ teaching immediately following (Mark 10:11–12) reasserts that divorce followed by remarriage equates to adultery, restoring God’s original, permanent ideal.

summary

Mark 10:4 records the Pharisees citing Moses’ concession on divorce. Jesus will soon reveal that this was never God’s heart; it was a temporary allowance made because of human sinfulness. The verse highlights human tendency to look for loopholes, God’s protective concern for the vulnerable, and the solemn responsibility placed on husbands. Its ultimate purpose in the passage is to set up Jesus’ reaffirmation that marriage is designed by God to be a lifelong, unbreakable covenant.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

They answered,
εἶπαν(eipan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Moses
Μωϋσῆς(Mōusēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3475:Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.

permitted
Ἐπέτρεψεν(Epetrepsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2010:To turn to, commit, entrust; I allow, yield, permit. From epi and the base of trope; to turn over, i.e. Allow.

[a man] to write [his wife]
γράψαι(grapsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1125:A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

a certificate
βιβλίον(biblion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 975:A papyrus roll. A diminutive of biblos; a roll.

of divorce
ἀποστασίου(apostasiou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 647:Neuter of a adjective from a derivative of aphistemi; properly, something separative, i.e. divorce.

and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

send [her] away.”
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.

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NT Gospels: Mark 10:4 They said Moses allowed a certificate (Mar Mk Mr)