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New Living Translation

Matthew 19:3

Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: "Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Divorce;   Jesus, the Christ;   Marriage;   Pharisees;   Scofield Reference Index - Kingdom;   Thompson Chain Reference - Pharisees;   Questions;   Sects, Jewish;   Snares Laid;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Divorce;   Husbands;   Pharisees, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Pharisees;   Woman;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Divorce;   Government;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Divorce;   Homosexuality;   Marriage;   Woman;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Marriage;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Divorce;   Wife;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Divorce;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Temptation;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Law;   Marriage;   Text of the New Testament;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Adultery ;   Asceticism (2);   Celibacy (2);   Common Life;   Discourse;   Divorce (2);   Education (2);   Eunuch ;   Home (2);   Law of God;   Marriage;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Peraea;   Reform;   Spies ;   Supremacy;   Temptation;   Wife ;   Womanliness;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Divorce;   Man;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Concubine;   Lamech;   Marriage;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Divorce;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Divorce,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Pharisees;   Sanhedrim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Garden of Eden;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Divorce in New Testament;   Family;   Harlot;   Law in the New Testament;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Divorce;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Some Pharisees approached him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?”
King James Version (1611)
The Pharisees also came vnto him, tempting him, and saying vnto him, Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wife for euery cause?
King James Version
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
English Standard Version
And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?"
New American Standard Bible
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"
New Century Version
Some Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to trick him. They asked, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he chooses?"
Amplified Bible
And Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then came vnto him the Pharises tempting him, & saying to him, Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wife vpon euery occasion?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"
Legacy Standard Bible
And some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"
Berean Standard Bible
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
Contemporary English Version
Some Pharisees wanted to test Jesus. They came up to him and asked, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"
Complete Jewish Bible
Some P'rushim came and tried to trap him by asking, "Is it permitted for a man to divorce his wife on any ground whatever?"
Darby Translation
And the Pharisees came to him tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Easy-to-Read Version
Some Pharisees came to Jesus. They tried to make him say something wrong. They asked him, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he chooses?"
George Lamsa Translation
And the Pharisees came up to him and were tempting him and saying, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?
Good News Translation
Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him by asking, "Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?"
Lexham English Bible
And Pharisees came up to him in order to test him, and asked if it was permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any cause.
Literal Translation
And the Pharisees came near to Him, tempting Him, and saying to Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every reason?
American Standard Version
And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Bible in Basic English
And certain Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, Is it right for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Hebrew Names Version
Perushim came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
International Standard Version
Some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a manfor a man
">[fn] to divorce his wife for any reason?"
Etheridge Translation
And the Pharishee approached him, and, tempting him, propounded to him whether it was lawful for a man to send away his wife for every cause.
Murdock Translation
And Pharisees came to him, and tempted him and said: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The pharisees also came vnto hym, temptyng hym, and saying vnto hym: Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wyfe, for euery cause?
English Revised Version
And there came unto him Pharisees, tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
World English Bible
Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Weymouth's New Testament
Then came some of the Pharisees to Him to put Him to the proof by the question, "Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Farisees camen to him, temptynge him, and seiden, Whether it be leueful to a man to leeue his wijf, for ony cause?
Update Bible Version
And Pharisees came to him, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?
Webster's Bible Translation
The Pharisees also came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
New English Translation
Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?"
New King James Version
The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"
New Life Bible
The proud religious law-keepers came to Jesus. They tried to trap Him by saying, "Does the Law say a man can divorce his wife for any reason?"
New Revised Standard
Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And there came unto him Pharisees, testing him, and saying, - Whether is it allowed a man to divorce his wife, for every cause?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Revised Standard Version
And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?"
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then came vnto him the pharises temtinge him and sayinge to him: Ys it lawfull for a man to put awaye his wyfe for all maner of causes?
Young's Literal Translation
And the Pharisees came near to him, tempting him, and saying to him, `Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then came vnto him the Pharises & tepted him, & sayde vnto him: Is it laufull for a man to put awaye his wife for eny maner of cause?
Mace New Testament (1729)
The Pharisees likewise came to him, and maliciously propos'd this question, may a man lawfully put away his wife at discretion?
THE MESSAGE
One day the Pharisees were badgering him: "Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
Simplified Cowboy Version
Some of the religious know-it-alls tried to corner him with some fancy talkin'. They asked, "Don't you think a man should be able to bust up his marriage for whatever reason he wants?"

Contextual Overview

3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: "Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?" 4 "Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.'" 5 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.' 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together." 7 "Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?" they asked. 8 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful." 10 Jesus' disciples then said to him, "If this is the case, it is better not to marry!" 11 "Not everyone can accept this statement," Jesus said. "Only those whom God helps. 12 Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

tempting: Matthew 16:1, Matthew 22:16-18, Matthew 22:35, Mark 10:2, Mark 12:13, Mark 12:15, Luke 11:53, Luke 11:54, John 8:6, Hebrews 3:9

Is it: Matthew 5:31, Matthew 5:32, Malachi 2:14-16

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:24 - and they shall be one flesh Malachi 2:16 - the Lord Matthew 12:10 - Is it Matthew 22:18 - Why Mark 8:11 - Pharisees 1 Peter 3:7 - ye

Cross-References

Genesis 19:6
So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.
Genesis 19:8
Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection."
Genesis 19:28
He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.
Genesis 19:29
But God had listened to Abraham's request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.
Genesis 21:8
When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion.
Exodus 12:15
For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. On the first day of the festival, remove every trace of yeast from your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with yeast during the seven days of the festival will be cut off from the community of Israel.
Exodus 12:39
For bread they baked flat cakes from the dough without yeast they had brought from Egypt. It was made without yeast because the people were driven out of Egypt in such a hurry that they had no time to prepare the bread or other food.
Judges 6:19
Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a basket of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the great tree.
1 Samuel 28:24
The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread.
2 Kings 4:8
One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The Pharisees also came unto him,.... Either from the places round about, or from Jerusalem: these came unto him, not for the sake of learning, or to be instructed by him; but as spies upon him, to observe what he said and did, and watch every opportunity to expose him to the contempt and hatred of the people;

tempting him with a question about divorces, in order to ensnare him:

and saying to him, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? be it ever so trivial, as said the school of Hillell: for there was a difference between the school of Shammai and the school of Hillell about this matter; the former insisted that a man might not put away his wife but in case of uncleanness; but the latter allowed putting away for very trifling things; as if she spoiled her husband's food by over roasting, or over salting it; and, as one of the doctors say, if he found another woman that was more beautiful than her; see Gill "Mt 5:32". This question being now agitated in the schools, they artfully put to Christ; not for information, but with a view to reproach him in some way or other; and that he might incur the resentment of one party or another, as he should answer. They might argue thus with themselves, and hope to succeed in this manner; should he be on the side of the school of Shammai, which was the weakest side, and less popular, as they had reason to believe he would, he would then expose himself to the resentment of the school of Hillell, and all on that side the question; should he take the part of Hillell, he would make the school of Shammai his enemies; should he forbid putting away of wives, which Moses allowed, they would then traduce him as contrary to Moses, and his law, which could not fail of setting the people against him; and should he consent to it, they would charge him with contradicting himself, or with inconstancy in his doctrine, since he had before asserted the unlawfulness of it, but in case of adultery; and should he abide by this, they might hope to irritate the men against him, who would think their liberty granted by Moses was entrenched on; as, on the other hand, should he, according to the question, admit of putting away for every cause, the women would be provoked at him, who would be left to the uncertain humour and caprice of their husbands; so that either way they hoped to get an advantage of him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Pharisees came - See the notes at Matthew 3:7.

Tempting him - This means, to get him, if possible, to express an opinion that should involve him in difficulty.

Is it lawful ... - There was the more art in the captious question which they proposed, as at that time the people were very much divided on the subject. A part, following the opinions of Hillel, said that a man might divorce his wife for any offence, or any dislike he might have of her. See the notes at Matthew 5:31. Others, of the school of Shammai, maintained that divorce was unlawful except in case of adultery. Whatever opinion, therefore, Christ expressed, they expected that he would involve himself in difficulty with one of their parties.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 19:3. Tempting him — Trying what answer he would give to a question, which, however decided by him, would expose him to censure.

Is it lawful - for every cause? — Instead of αιτιαν, fault, cause, reason, three MSS. and the Coptic version read αμαρτιαν, sin or transgression: this was probably the original reading-the first syllable being lost, αρτιαν alone would remain, which a subsequent transcriber would suppose to be a mistake for αιτιαν, and so wrote it; hence this various reading. What made our Lord's situation at present so critical in respect to this question was: At this time there were two famous divinity and philosophical schools among the Jews, that of SHAMMAI, and that of HILLEL. On the question of divorce, the school of Shammai maintained, that a man could not legally put away his wife, except for whoredom. The school of Hillel taught that a man might put away his wife for a multitude of other causes, and when she did not find grace in his sight; i.e. when he saw any other woman that pleased him better. See the case of Josephus, mentioned in Clarke's note on "Matthew 5:31", and Calmet's Comment, vol. i. part ii. p. 379. By answering the question, not from Shammai or Hillel, but from Moses, our blessed Lord defeated their malice, and confounded their devices.


 
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