The Meaning of Matthew 19:7 Explained

Matthew 19:7

KJV: They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

YLT: They say to him, 'Why then did Moses command to give a roll of divorce, and to put her away?'

Darby: They say to him, Why then did Moses command to give a letter of divorce and to send her away?

ASV: They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They say  unto him,  Why  did Moses  then  command  to give  a writing  of divorcement,  and  to put  her  away? 

What does Matthew 19:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus had not yet answered the Pharisees" question about how one should take the Mosaic Law on this subject, so they asked Him this question. Granting Jesus" view of marriage, why did Moses allow divorce? In the Deuteronomy 24:1-4 passage to which the Pharisees referred, God showed more concern about prohibiting the remarriage of the divorced woman and her first husband than the reason for granting the divorce. However the Pharisees took the passage as a command (Gr. entellomai) to divorce one"s wife for any indecency. God intended it as only a permission to divorce, as the passage itself shows.

Context Summary

Matthew 19:1-12 - Jesus' View Of Marriage
Divorce was common among the Jews of that decadent age, being justified by Deuteronomy 24:1. Concerning this it should be remembered that this legislation, though in advance of the standards of its age, was a distinct concession to the state of morality which had then been reached. You can legislate only slightly ahead of the general maxims and practices of the people, else you discourage them and bring your laws into disuse.
The Lord takes us back to the original constitution of the family, where the one man was for the one woman. The only act that justifies divorce is the act which violates the marriage vow. Some are debarred from marriage by circumstances, but for such there is provided special grace, if they will seek it. Some refuse marriage in order to be more free for their life-work. Christ does not set these above others. He does not put special honor on celibacy: but in Matthew 19:13-14 places special emphasis on the beauty of family life. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for Matthew 19:7

Writing [βιβλίον]
Rev., bill. The word is a diminutive of βίβλος , which originally means the inner bark of the papyrus, used for writing, then a book or roll of this bark; hence a paper, bill. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 19:7

Matthew 5:31 A writing of divorcement [αποστασιον]
The Greek is an abbreviation of βιβλιον αποστασιου — biblion apostasiou (Matthew 19:7; Mark 10:4). Vulgate has here libellum repudii. The papyri use συγγραπη αποστασιου — suggraphē apostasiou in commercial transactions as “a bond of release” (see Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary, etc.) The written notice (βιβλιον — biblion) was a protection to the wife against an angry whim of the husband who might send her away with no paper to show for it. [source]
Mark 10:4 Bill [βιβλίον]
See on Matthew 19:7. Diminutive. Lit., a little book; Lat., libellus, from which comes our word libel, a written accusation. Accordingly Wyc. has a libel of forsaking, and Tynd. a testimonial of her divorcement. [source]
Mark 10:4 To write a bill of divorcement and to put her away [biblion apostasiou grapsai kai apolusai)]
The word for “bill” Wycliff has it here “a libel of forsaking.” This same point the Pharisees raise in Matthew 19:7, showing probably that they held to the liberal view of Hillel, easy divorce for almost any cause. That was the popular view as now. See note on Matthew 19:8 for this and for discussion of “for your hardness of heart” Jesus expounds the purpose of marriage (Genesis 2:24) and takes the stricter view of divorce, that of the school of Shammai. See notes on Matthew 19:3-11 for discussion. Mark 10:10 notes that the disciples asked Jesus about this problem “in the house” after they had gone away from the crowd. [source]
Revelation 5:1 A Book [βιβλίον]
See on Matthew 19:7; see on Mark 10:4; see on Luke 4:17. Compare Ezekiel 2:9; Jeremiah 36:2; Zechariah 5:1, Zechariah 5:2. [source]
Revelation 22:7 Book [βιβλίου]
Diminutive, properly a little book or scroll. See on writing, Matthew 19:7; see on bill, Mark 10:2; see on book, Luke 4:17. [source]
Revelation 1:11 In a book [εἰς βιβλίον]
Lit., into. Commit in writing to a book. For book see on Matthew 19:7; see on Mark 10:4; see on Luke 4:17. The command to write is given twelve times in Revelation. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 19:7 mean?

They say to Him Why then Moses did command to give a roll of divorce and to send away her
Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ Τί οὖν Μωϋσῆς ἐνετείλατο δοῦναι βιβλίον ἀποστασίου καὶ ἀπολῦσαι ‹αὐτήν›

Λέγουσιν  They  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Τί  Why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
Μωϋσῆς  Moses 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Μωσεύς 
Sense: the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion.
ἐνετείλατο  did  command 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διακελεύω 
Sense: to order, command to be done, enjoin.
δοῦναι  to  give 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
βιβλίον  a  roll 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: βιβλίον  
Sense: a small book, a scroll, a written document.
ἀποστασίου  of  divorce 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: ἀποστάσιον  
Sense: divorce, repudiation.
ἀπολῦσαι  to  send  away 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀπολύω  
Sense: to set free.
‹αὐτήν›  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.