Matthew 19 5

Matthew 19:5 kjv

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Matthew 19:5 nkjv

and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

Matthew 19:5 niv

and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?

Matthew 19:5 esv

and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

Matthew 19:5 nlt

And he said, "'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.'

Matthew 19 verses

Matthew 19 5 Meaning

This verse, quoted by Jesus from Genesis 2:24, establishes the foundational principle of marriage as instituted by God at creation. It articulates that for marriage to be legitimate and fulfilling God’s design, a man must shift his primary allegiance from his parents to his wife. This act of leaving is complemented by an act of cleaving, signifying a permanent, exclusive, and profound union. The phrase "one flesh" signifies a holistic unity encompassing physical intimacy, emotional bonding, and a complete merger of two distinct lives into a new, indivisible unit before God.

Matthew 19 5 Context

Matthew 19:5 occurs within a direct interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the topic of divorce. The Pharisees tested Jesus by asking if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for "any and every reason," reflecting contemporary Jewish debates between the strict Shammai school and the more lenient Hillel school. In response, Jesus does not engage with their legalistic loopholes but instead transcends the debate by going back to the foundational principle of marriage established by God in creation. This specific verse, quoting Genesis 2:24, serves as Jesus' authoritative appeal to the original, divine intention for marriage as an unbreakable, lifelong, and exclusive union, thus challenging the prevailing easy divorce practices of His day. His reference directly establishes a polemic against the idea of casual or convenient divorce.

Matthew 19 5 Word analysis

• For this reason: Greek: διὰ τοῦτο (dia touto). Points back to God's creation of male and female and their complementary design (as mentioned in Gen 1:27 and the preceding verse Matt 19:4, "He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female'"). It implies a divine purpose or a foundational premise for the marital union.
• a man: Greek: ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos). While it literally means 'human being' or 'mankind', in this specific context (paralleling "his wife" and "father and mother") it refers specifically to the male spouse. It signifies the universal application of this principle for all humanity, originating from creation.
• will leave: Greek: καταλείψει (kataleipsei). Literally "to abandon, to forsake, to desert, to leave behind." This is not merely a physical departure from the parental home but a significant reordering of allegiances and priorities. It marks a shift from primary familial dependency to a new, independent unit with the spouse. It is an act of detachment from previous bonds.
• his father and mother: Refers to the original family unit and the primary authority structures a person grows up under. The act of "leaving" signifies the establishment of a new, distinct, and independent household unit.
• and be united to: Greek: προσκολληθήσεται (proskollēthēsetai). Literally "to cleave to," "to glue together," "to stick fast to." It implies an inseparable attachment and profound commitment. This is an active choice to join oneself irrevocably to another, forming a deep and permanent bond. It highlights fidelity and loyalty.
• his wife: Greek: τῇ γυναικί (tē gynaikí). Refers to a female spouse, affirming the exclusive and heterosexual nature of the marital union as established in creation.
• and the two: Greek: οἱ δύο (hoi dyó). Emphasizes that two distinct individuals, male and female, come together. This maintains individual identity while emphasizing the formation of a unified whole. It underscores the dualistic nature of the union.
• will become: Greek: ἔσονται (esontai). Future tense, indicating a divine declaration or decree. It is a pronouncement of the intended and desired outcome, a state that will result from the cleaving.
• one flesh: Greek: σάρκα μίαν (sarka mian). This is a profound and comprehensive concept. It encompasses:
  • Physical union: Sexual intimacy, though not its sole meaning, is an integral expression of this unity.
  • Holistic union: It represents a merging of lives on every level—emotional, spiritual, financial, social. The two individuals are meant to function as a single entity, sharing a common life and purpose.
  • New identity: A new household, a new family unit is established, distinct from both partners' families of origin.
  • Indivisibility: The imagery implies an organic unity that resists separation, pointing to the permanence of marriage.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother": This phrase highlights the divine imperative for initiating marriage. It mandates a foundational reorientation of loyalty, priorities, and dependency away from the family of origin, paving the way for the formation of a new, distinct, and autonomous marital unit. It emphasizes maturity and separation.
• "and be united to his wife": This denotes the active, volitional, and deep commitment necessary to form the marital bond. It describes the binding, exclusive, and adhesive nature of the union, stressing mutual devotion and an enduring connection that transcends mere physical presence or companionship.
• "and the two will become one flesh": This culminating phrase defines the profound nature and spiritual essence of marriage. It speaks to a total and holistic merging of lives—physical, emotional, and spiritual—into a singular entity. It implies a complete intimacy and identity, established by God, which underscores the permanence and sacredness of the marital covenant.

Matthew 19 5 Bonus section

The concept of "one flesh" in this verse holds deep theological significance, foreshadowing the intimate spiritual union between Christ and the Church. Just as a man and woman become one, Christ and believers are united in a profound, spiritual reality, forming "one body" (Eph 5:31-32; 1 Cor 12:12-13). Jesus' emphasis on returning to creation design underscores His authority and adherence to divine blueprint, establishing that certain human behaviors and institutions (like marriage) are fundamentally defined by God, not by cultural or legal expediency. This verse also implicitly addresses the patriarchal society of Jesus' time, affirming a relational dynamic where both partners equally contribute to forming the "one flesh," highlighting mutuality and shared identity in marriage.

Matthew 19 5 Commentary

In Matthew 19:5, Jesus Christ elevates marriage from a human societal arrangement to a sacred divine institution by grounding it directly in God's act of creation. By quoting Genesis 2:24, He bypasses legalistic interpretations and restores the fundamental, original intention: a permanent, exclusive, and indissoluble union between one man and one woman. The command to "leave" emphasizes a necessary separation from parental primary allegiance, establishing a new independent household. The call to "be united to" signifies an unbreakable commitment and adhesive loyalty. Most profoundly, "one flesh" defines marriage as a holistic merging of two individuals into a singular, unified entity, reflecting God's intention for complete intimacy and shared life. This profound unity, which encompasses mind, body, and spirit, makes casual divorce an affront to God's design. The verse fundamentally teaches that marriage is a divine covenant, a spiritual reality, not merely a civil contract.