Mark 10 12

Mark 10:12 kjv

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Mark 10:12 nkjv

And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Mark 10:12 niv

And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

Mark 10:12 esv

and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Mark 10:12 nlt

And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery."

Mark 10 verses

Mark 10 12 Meaning

Mark 10:12 asserts that if a woman initiates divorce from her husband and subsequently marries another man, she commits adultery. This teaching underscores the sanctity and permanence of the marriage covenant as ordained by God, highlighting that a new union after an unbiblical divorce is a violation of the initial sacred bond, regardless of who initiates the separation.

Mark 10 12 Context

Mark 10:12 is part of Jesus' broader teaching on divorce and marriage (Mark 10:1-12). In this passage, Pharisees test Jesus by asking about the lawfulness of divorce. Jesus directs them to God's original creation intent for marriage (Gen 1:27; 2:24), emphasizing the "one flesh" union and that what God has joined, no human should separate. He contrasts this with Moses' concession for divorce (Deut 24:1-4) as a response to the "hardness of hearts," but not as God's ideal. The specific verse 10:12 is Jesus' private instruction to His disciples, after the public debate, clarifying the implications of this teaching for both men (v. 11) and women. While Jewish law predominantly allowed a husband to divorce his wife, this particular clause in Mark addresses a scenario common in Hellenistic/Roman culture where women also had legal recourse to initiate divorce, reflecting the audience Mark was likely addressing (Gentiles) and affirming the same divine standard for both genders. It directly counters the lax interpretations of divorce prevalent in society at the time.

Mark 10 12 Word analysis

• And if (καὶ ἐὰν – kai ean): A transitional phrase linking this teaching to the previous statement about men divorcing their wives. It introduces a conditional scenario, completing the comprehensive picture of marriage breakdown and remarriage.
• a woman (γυνὴ – gyne): Specifically refers to the wife. This inclusion is significant because Jewish law primarily granted divorce initiative to the husband. Mark's Gospel, written to a Gentile audience (likely Roman), reflects a societal context where women could also initiate divorce. This shows Jesus applying the divine principle to a broader societal practice, demonstrating God's standard applies to all.
• divorces (ἀπολύσῃ – apolysē): From the verb ἀπολύω (apolyo), meaning "to send away," "release," or "divorce." Here it is in the active voice, indicating the woman takes the initiative to separate from her husband.
• her husband (τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν ἴδιον – ton andra ton idion): Literally, "her own man" or "her own husband." Emphasizes the specific, pre-existing marital covenant between this woman and her partner, whose bond God established.
• and marries (καὶ γαμήσῃ – kai gamēsē): To enter into marriage with. This word highlights that the problem is not merely separation, but the act of forming a new marital union while the previous, God-ordained one is still valid in God's eyes.
• another (ἄλλον – allon): Refers to "another man." This emphasizes that the new partner is not the original covenant spouse, thus constituting a breach of the prior union.
• she commits adultery (μοιχᾶται – moichatai): From the verb μοιχεύω (moicheuo), "to commit adultery." This is the core pronouncement. It declares that the remarriage after an unbiblical divorce is a violation of the permanent "one flesh" bond, transgressing the Seventh Commandment. The present tense verb implies a continuous state or a definite consequence of the action.

Words-group analysis:

• "And if a woman divorces her husband": This phrase specifically addresses the woman's role in initiating divorce, a point particularly relevant to a Greco-Roman audience where mutual divorce or a wife's petition for divorce was common, unlike the more restricted Jewish custom. It levels the divine standard, showing that both genders are held to the same high ethical principles regarding marriage. Jesus' teaching here implies that both men and women must align their actions with God's perfect design for marriage, not just cultural permissions.
• "and marries another": This sequence clarifies that it is not simply the act of divorce itself that is condemned as adultery, but the subsequent remarriage while the prior covenantal bond, still recognized by God, persists. This highlights that from God's perspective, the "one flesh" union is enduring, and taking another spouse after an invalid divorce fundamentally violates that original unity.
• "she commits adultery": This declarative statement carries profound spiritual weight. It is not merely a social or legal classification, but a moral and spiritual assessment of the act. It re-establishes God's divine standard for sexual purity and the sanctity of marriage against human-made regulations or cultural accommodations. The consequence for such an act is a breaking of the sacred covenant with both spouse and God.

Mark 10 12 Bonus section

The stark, unqualified nature of Mark 10:12 (and its parallel in Luke 16:18) stands in contrast to Matthew's gospel (Matt 5:32, 19:9), which includes an "exception clause" (often translated as "sexual immorality" or porneia). Scholars debate whether Mark's omission implies no exception exists, or if Matthew's clause is understood implicitly within Jesus' broader teaching on legitimate causes for marriage dissolution, such as sexual sin that has already violated the one-flesh union. For a Gentile audience (Mark's probable demographic), the universal principle of marriage as indissoluble might have been stressed more simply, while the Matthean clause might have addressed specific Jewish concerns regarding unlawful marriages. Regardless, Jesus' core message across all Gospels is that divorce and remarriage, outside of divine allowance, violates the sanctity of the covenant established by God. The principle conveyed in Mark 10:12 applies equally to men and women, challenging the cultural biases of the time and upholding a singularly high standard for marital fidelity rooted in creation.

Mark 10 12 Commentary

Mark 10:12 is a concise, yet profound, declaration by Jesus affirming the divine ideal of marriage. Coming after the Pharisees' question about divorce and Jesus' referral to creation, this verse, delivered privately to His disciples, extends His radical teaching on marriage's indissolubility. It specifically addresses the scenario of a wife divorcing her husband and remarrying, a context more prominent in the Hellenistic Roman world than strict Jewish custom. By stating "she commits adultery," Jesus unequivocally applies the same strict standard to women as He does to men in the preceding verse. He is not introducing a new law, but re-asserting God's original intention for marriage as an unbreakable covenant between one man and one woman for life (Gen 2:24), a union so profound it makes them "one flesh."

The key emphasis is that an illegitimate divorce (one not recognized by God as dissolving the marriage bond) does not nullify the original covenant in God's sight. Therefore, marrying another person after such a divorce constitutes adultery, as it infringes upon the existing, God-ordained bond. This teaching challenges societal norms that allowed for casual or "no-fault" divorce, regardless of whether initiated by a man or a woman, by presenting a clear moral boundary defined by God's unchanging standard for fidelity and the sanctity of marital commitment.