# What Does the Bible Say About Divorce? > Jesus treats marriage as a covenant God joins. He names sexual immorality in Matthew 19:9. Churches disagree about desertion, abuse, and remarriage. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/moral-questions/divorce - Religions: none - Denominations: none - Beliefs: Moral questions - Tags: sexuality-and-marriage, bible, marriage, divorce - Updated: 2026-10-09 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul)) Jesus treats marriage as a covenant God joins. In [Matthew 19:6](/bible/matthew/19/6) he says, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” In [Matthew 19:9](/bible/matthew/19/9) he names fornication as the exception. Churches disagree about desertion, abuse, annulment, and whether a divorced person may marry again. ## Key points - [Genesis 2:24](/bible/genesis/2/24) says a man shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh. - [Matthew 19:8–9](/bible/matthew/19) says Moses allowed divorce for hardness of heart, and Jesus names fornication. - [Malachi 2:16](/bible/malachi/2/16) says the LORD hates putting away. - [1 Corinthians 7:15](/bible/1-corinthians/7/15) says if the unbelieving partner departs, a brother or sister is not under bondage. - The [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2382](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P87.HTM), says a ratified and consummated marriage of the baptized “cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death.” - The [United Methodist Social Principles](https://www.umc.org/en/content/social-principles-the-social-community) say divorce “does not preclude remarriage.” [What does the Bible say about homosexuality?](/moral-questions/homosexuality) is Jesus’ male and female in the same chapter. ## What the Bible says [Genesis 2:24](/bible/genesis/2/24) (King James Version) says: > Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. [Deuteronomy 24:1](/bible/deuteronomy/24/1) allows a bill of divorcement when a man has found some uncleanness in his wife. [Malachi 2:16](/bible/malachi/2/16) (King James Version) says: > For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. [Matthew 19:4–9](/bible/matthew/19) (King James Version) is Jesus’ answer: > And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 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? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. [Matthew 5:32](/bible/matthew/5/32) says the same exception, “saving for the cause of fornication.” [Mark 10:11–12](/bible/mark/10) does not repeat that exception: whoever puts away a wife and marries another commits adultery, and a woman who puts away her husband and marries another commits adultery. [1 Corinthians 7:10–11](/bible/1-corinthians/7) (King James Version) says the charge is the Lord’s: > And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. [1 Corinthians 7:15](/bible/1-corinthians/7/15) adds: > But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. ## Where churches stand The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) constitutional text was not on the page fetched. The ELCA sexuality page reports a 2025 amendment and does not print the statement. Southern Baptist and PCA pages fetched for the other articles do not print a divorce paragraph. A Gospel Topics divorce page did not include the entry’s text. Those bodies are not quoted on divorce here. The [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2382–2384](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P87.HTM), says: > The Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble. He abrogates the accommodations that had slipped into the old Law. Between the baptized, "a ratified and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death." Paragraph 2383 says separation can be legitimate, and that civil divorce “can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense” when it is the only way to secure legal rights, the children, or an inheritance. Paragraph 2384 says: > Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. and that contracting a new union “adds to the gravity of the rupture.” The [Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod FAQ](https://www.lcms.org/about/beliefs/faqs/lcms-views) says: > The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod believes divorce is contrary to God's original design and intention for marriage. While divorce can be justified scripturally in certain situations (adultery or desertion), it is always preferable for couples to forgive and work toward healing and strengthening their marriage. It says pastors deal case by case. The [United Methodist Social Principles](https://www.umc.org/en/content/social-principles-the-social-community) say: > Within the church, we affirm marriage as a sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age into union with one another. On divorce they say: > We recognize that divorce may become a regrettable but necessary alternative when marital relationships are strained beyond repair or become destructive or when spouses become irrevocably estranged. They say fidelity “does not require spouses to remain in a physically or mentally abusive relationship,” and “Divorce does not preclude remarriage.” The [Orthodox Church in America](https://www.oca.org/holy-synod/statements/holy-synod/synodal-affirmations-on-marriage-family-sexuality-and-the-sanctity-of-life) says Jesus insisted “that one unique marriage between man and woman was God’s will from the beginning.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a Trinitarian church. [The Family: A Proclamation to the World](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng) says: > marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not a Trinitarian church. Their page [Does the Bible Permit Divorce?](https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/divorce-bible-view/) says: > The Bible does permit divorce. However, Jesus identified only one acceptable reason to end a marriage. The page then quotes Matthew 19:9 from its study Bible, with a bracket of its own: “except on the ground of fornication [sex outside of the marriage].” It also says: > God hates a deceitful, treacherous divorce. He will personally hold accountable those who frivolously leave their mate, especially when they do so with the motive of taking another partner. ## I can’t become a Christian because I am divorced [Matthew 19:8](/bible/matthew/19/8) says Moses allowed divorce because of hardness of heart, and that from the beginning it was not so. [1 Corinthians 7:11](/bible/1-corinthians/7/11) tells a wife who departs to remain unmarried or to be reconciled. The churches quoted above do not give one rule for remarriage: the catechism calls a new union an addition to the gravity of divorce, the LCMS FAQ names adultery or desertion, and the United Methodist text says divorce does not preclude remarriage. The Christian claim is that Jesus is God and that he receives sinners. [John 3:16](/bible/john/3/16) is the offer of everlasting life. That confession is [the deity of Christ](/christianity/deity-of-christ). ## Frequently asked questions ### What exception does Jesus name? [Matthew 19:9](/bible/matthew/19/9) and [Matthew 5:32](/bible/matthew/5/32) say “fornication.” [Mark 10:11–12](/bible/mark/10) states the adultery of remarriage after divorce without repeating that exception. ### What about an unbelieving spouse who leaves? [1 Corinthians 7:15](/bible/1-corinthians/7/15) says if the unbelieving partner departs, let that person depart, and a brother or sister is not under bondage. God has called them to peace. ### Do churches agree about abuse? The United Methodist paragraph quoted above says the marriage covenant does not require a spouse to remain in a physically or mentally abusive relationship. The other statements quoted on this page do not print that sentence. ## Passages quoted on this page ### Deuteronomy 24:1 King James Version. > When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. ### Matthew 19:4–9 King James Version. > [19:4] And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, [19:5] 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? [19:6] Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. [19:7] They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? [19:8] He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. [19:9] And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. ### Matthew 5:32 King James Version. > But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. ### Mark 10:11–12 King James Version. > [10:11] And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. [10:12] And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. ### John 3:16 King James Version. > For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ### Mark 10:6–12 King James Version. > [10:6] But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. [10:7] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; [10:8] And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. [10:9] What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. [10:10] And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. [10:11] And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. [10:12] And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. ### 1 Corinthians 7:10–15 King James Version. > [7:10] And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: [7:11] But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. [7:12] But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. [7:13] And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. [7:14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. [7:15] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [Gospel of Matthew, 19:4–9](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/matthew/19). King James Version 2. [Gospel of Mark, 10:6–12](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/mark/10). King James Version 3. [First Letter to the Corinthians, 7:10–15](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/1-corinthians/7). King James Version 4. [Book of Malachi, 2:16](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/malachi/2/16). King James Version 5. [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2382–2384](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P87.HTM) 6. [The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, FAQs, Divorce](https://www.lcms.org/about/beliefs/faqs/lcms-views) (A synod FAQ page, not a new confession.) 7. [The United Methodist Church, Social Principles, The Social Community, Marriage and divorce](https://www.umc.org/en/content/social-principles-the-social-community) 8. [Orthodox Church in America, Synodal Affirmations on Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life, Marriage](https://www.oca.org/holy-synod/statements/holy-synod/synodal-affirmations-on-marriage-family-sexuality-and-the-sanctity-of-life) 9. [The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Marriage](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng) (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Not a Trinitarian confession. A Gospel Topics divorce page did not include the entry text in the fetch.) 10. [Does the Bible Permit Divorce?, jw.org](https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/divorce-bible-view/) (Jehovah’s Witnesses. Not a Trinitarian confession.) ## See also - [What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?](https://apologetics.wiki/moral-questions/homosexuality) — The historic Christian reading is that sexual intimacy belongs in the marriage of a man and a woman. Churches that confess the Trinity have not all published the same recent statements. - [Can Christians Believe in Evolution?](https://apologetics.wiki/moral-questions/evolution-and-creation) — Christians confess that God created the heavens and the earth and made humans in his image. They do not agree on the age of the earth or on the means. - [Does the Bible Support Slavery?](https://apologetics.wiki/moral-questions/slavery-in-the-bible) — The Bible condemns kidnapping a person to sell them, and it says every person is made in God’s image. It also regulates slavery in ancient Israel and the Roman world. - [Is Hell Real? What the Bible Says About Hell](https://apologetics.wiki/moral-questions/hell) — Jesus speaks of everlasting punishment and of fire that is not quenched. Some churches, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, teach a different end for the wicked. - [What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?](https://apologetics.wiki/moral-questions/abortion) — Historic Christianity treats the child in the womb as a human life that must not be killed. Churches differ on the rare case in which the mother’s life is in danger. ## History [View history on GitHub](https://github.com/Apologetics-Wiki/apologetics-wiki/commits/main/src/content/articles/divorce.md)