Mark 10 7

Mark 10:7 kjv

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

Mark 10:7 nkjv

'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,

Mark 10:7 niv

'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,

Mark 10:7 esv

'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,

Mark 10:7 nlt

'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,

Mark 10 verses

Mark 10 7 Meaning

Mark 10:7 states that "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife." This verse presents God's original intent and design for marriage, foundational from creation itself. It defines marriage as a complete reorientation of allegiance from one's family of origin to one's spouse, forming a new, unique, and indissoluble spiritual, emotional, and physical union. This "leaving and cleaving" establishes a new primary familial unit that is separate from parental authority and deeply committed to each other.

Mark 10 7 Context

Mark chapter 10 begins with Pharisees testing Jesus on the issue of divorce (Mark 10:2). Their question was likely rooted in the Mosaic law concerning a bill of divorce (Deut 24:1-4) and the prevailing debates between different rabbinical schools (Hillel and Shammai) over permissible grounds for divorce. While Hillel allowed divorce for virtually "any matter," Jesus, in Mark 10:5-9, rejects such lax interpretations. Instead of appealing to Mosaic allowances for hardheartedness, Jesus directs them back to God's original creative intent for humanity and marriage, quoting Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24. Mark 10:7 is directly from this crucial reference to Genesis, underpinning Jesus's argument for the sacred, covenantal, and essentially indissoluble nature of marriage as instituted by God. It emphasizes that marriage predates the Law and is God's foundational design for male and female.

Mark 10 7 Word analysis

• For this reason (Ancient Greek: Ἕνεκεν τούτου, Heneken toutou): This phrase links the current statement directly to what precedes it in Mark 10:6—that "from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’" It asserts that the design for marriage (leaving and cleaving) is a direct, divinely purposed consequence of humanity's creation as two complementary genders. It is not merely a social construct or tradition.
• a man (Ancient Greek: ἄνθρωπος, anthrōpos): While anthrōpos can refer generically to humanity, in this context, paralleling Gen 2:24, it specifically denotes the male individual. It highlights the husband's primary initiative and responsibility in establishing the new marital unit.
• shall leave (Ancient Greek: καταλείψει, kataleipsei, from kataleipō): This verb signifies a deliberate and decisive act of forsaking, abandoning, or leaving behind. It implies not merely physical departure from the parental home, but a fundamental shift in allegiance and identity. It is an act of severing primary dependency on one's parents and initiating a new, independent household. This leaving necessitates a reordering of familial loyalty, where the primary relationship becomes the spouse, without necessarily dishonoring one's parents.
• his father and mother (Ancient Greek: τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα, ton patera autou kai tēn mētēra): This specifies the previous primary relationship unit. The act of "leaving" requires an emotional, financial, and relational detachment from the parental unit to allow the marital bond to take precedence. It emphasizes the generational shift in familial priority.
• and be united to (Ancient Greek: προσκολληθήσεται, proskollēthēsetai, from proskollao): This verb means "to glue to," "to cling closely," "to cleave." It is a powerful term indicating an inseparable, profound, and lifelong commitment. The passive voice implies that this union is not just a human decision but part of a divine purpose or enablement. This cleaving involves spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial union, establishing the marital pair as the new, self-sustaining nucleus of family life. It’s a permanent bonding.
• his wife (Ancient Greek: τῇ γυναικί αὐτοῦ, tē gunaiki autou): Refers to a single, specific woman. The singular noun underscores the exclusivity and monogamous nature of God's design for marriage—one man with one woman. It implies that the deepest intimacy and loyalty are reserved solely for this unique spousal relationship.

• "a man shall leave his father and mother": This phrase marks a pivotal transition in life and family structure. It demands a deliberate decision to reorder allegiances. While respecting and honoring parents remains vital (Ex 20:12), the primary bond and authority in the new family unit shifts irrevocably to the marital relationship. This also includes establishing independent financial and living arrangements.
• "and be united to his wife": This denotes the formation of an entirely new, deeply interconnected, and exclusive partnership. The union is described in terms of intense closeness and permanent attachment, indicating an unbreakable covenant bond. It encompasses total faithfulness, shared life, and intimate knowledge of one another.

Mark 10 7 Bonus section

The omission of the phrase "and the two shall become one flesh" (from Gen 2:24) in Mark 10:7, while present in the following verse (Mark 10:8), suggests that verse 7 focuses specifically on the societal and relational act of forming the new union—the physical departure and the relational attachment. Mark 10:8 then builds on this, adding the crucial aspect of profound intimacy and unity ("one flesh"), reinforcing the idea of a comprehensive, divine joining that transcends human ability to separate. The verb "proskollēthēsetai" (be united/cleave to) implicitly carries the weight of becoming "one," even before the explicit statement of "one flesh" in verse 8, highlighting the strong adhesive quality of the marriage bond as purposed by God. Jesus, in going back to creation, demonstrates His authority over the Mosaic law, not by contradicting it, but by interpreting it through God's original, perfect design for humanity before sin and the "hardness of hearts" entered the world.

Mark 10 7 Commentary

Mark 10:7 reveals Jesus's radical affirmation of marriage as God's divine and foundational design from creation. In confronting the lax divorce practices of His day, Jesus takes His audience back to Genesis, establishing that marriage is not merely a societal convention or a legal contract, but a sacred institution characterized by two inseparable principles: "leaving" and "cleaving." The "leaving" signifies a decisive reorientation of primary allegiance from one's family of origin to one's spouse, marking the initiation of a new, distinct, and independent household unit. This means transferring one's deepest loyalty, emotional dependency, and financial commitment to the marital partner. Simultaneously, the "cleaving" denotes an inseparable, lifelong, and exclusive bond between one man and one woman. This union is a profound joining—spiritually, emotionally, physically, and economically—that is intended to be permanent and indissoluble, reflecting the will of the Creator. Jesus's emphasis here sets the divine standard for marital commitment, establishing its inherent permanence prior to human laws or customs.

Practical examples:

• A couple prioritizes joint decision-making for finances and living arrangements over immediate parental desires, signifying "leaving."
• Spouses choose to resolve conflicts within their marriage and seek reconciliation, reflecting "cleaving" and commitment.
• The husband's primary emotional and intimate relationship is with his wife, not his parents, fulfilling the spirit of "leaving and cleaving."