Skip to main content
    In Context

    What Does the Bible Say About Marriage and Divorce — In Biblical Context

    God designed marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman; divorce is permitted in limited circumstances but was never God's original intent.

    Quick Answer

    God designed marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman; divorce is permitted in limited circumstances but was never God's original intent.

    "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." — Matthew 19:6 (KJV)

    The Biblical Context

    Marriage was established at creation when God declared, 'It is not good that the man should be alone' and created Eve as Adam's companion (Genesis 2:18). Jesus affirmed this foundation: 'What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder' (Matthew 19:6). Paul compares marriage to Christ's relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:25-33), elevating it to a sacred illustration of divine love. On divorce, Moses permitted it because of 'hardness of hearts' (Matthew 19:8), but Jesus restricted it, saying 'whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery' (Matthew 19:9). Paul adds that if an unbelieving spouse departs, the believer is 'not under bondage' (1 Corinthians 7:15). While God 'hateth putting away' (Malachi 2:16), He also extends grace and restoration to the divorced. The biblical ideal remains a loving, faithful, lifelong union that mirrors Christ's unfailing love for His people.

    Where It Sits in Scripture

    The core passage for this question, Matthew 19:6, sits inside Matthew 19. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.

    "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
    — Matthew 19:6 (KJV)

    Supporting Passages

    Ephesians 5:25
    "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."
    Malachi 2:16
    "For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away."

    Explore this question from another angle

    Meaning

    Plain-language explanation

    Related Verses

    Cross-reference KJV verses

    Full Answer

    The complete Bible answer page

    Related Reading

    Continue your study with related content from across our library:

    Q&A

    What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?

    Marriage & Family

    Q&A

    Can Divorced People Remarry?

    Marriage & Family

    Q&A

    What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?

    Marriage & Family

    Situation

    Marriage Struggles

    Scriptures for couples navigating conflict, distance, or difficulty in their mar

    Situation

    Going Through Divorce

    Scriptures for comfort, healing, and hope during and after the pain of divorce.

    Verses About

    Bible Verses About Divorce

    10 curated KJV verses

    Keep Going

    Continue Exploring Scripture

    You've found one resource — here are more ways to go deeper into God's Word.

    Today's Verse

    Start each day with a hand-picked KJV verse and reflection.

    Verses by Topic

    Find what the Bible says about love, anxiety, strength, and 500+ more topics.

    Bible Miracles

    Discover the signs and wonders of God recorded in Scripture.

    Angels & Spiritual Warfare

    Angels, demons, and the armor of God — what the KJV really teaches about the unseen battle.

    Bible Genealogies & Family Trees

    Visual KJV family trees — the line of Jesus, the sons of Noah, the twelve tribes, and more.

    Women of the Bible

    Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary — the matriarchs, prophetesses, queens, and disciples of Scripture.