OET interlinear MAT 19:3

19:3a

Then: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Then is the connecting word that usually joins the next event to the previous one. Some English versions do not translate it here. They allow the context to suggest the connection.

Here is another way to translate it:

And (ESV)

some Pharisees: Some Pharisees came to Jesus. Not all of them.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

some members of the Pharisee group

For help in translating the word Pharisees, see the note at 3:7a.

came: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as came means that they approached Jesus. There is no indication of where these Pharisees came from. It is good to keep this as a general statement. For example:

Pharisees approached him (NJB)

some Pharisees came to Jesus

and tested Him: The word tested means “tried to trick/trap” him so that he fails. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to fail to answer the question well. They hoped that he would say something that was against the law of Moses. Then they could accuse him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in order to test him (NET)

and tried to trap him (GNT)

and tried to trick him (NCV)

and tried to trick him to give a bad answer

This same verb occurs in 16:1b. You should translate it here as you did there.

Him: The pronoun Him refers to Jesus. Since this sentence begins a new paragraph, it may be natural in some languages to use his name. For example:

and tested Jesus

by asking: In Greek, this phrase is more literally “and saying.” But the Pharisees’ trap for Jesus involved a question. So many English translations use the word “ask” here.

It is also possible to start a new sentence here. For example:

They asked (NIV)

19:3b

Is it lawful: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Is it lawful is more literally “Is it permitted.” This means “Does God’s/Moses’ law permit (a man to divorce his wife)?”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Does our Law allow a man (GNT)

Is it permitted in the Law of Moses for a man

This same phrase occurs in 12:10c.

for a man to divorce his wife: The Greek word that the BSB translates as divorce means “release,” “reject,” or “send away.” In this context, it refers to breaking the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.At that time, Jewish law allowed a man to break the marriage covenant with his wife, but the law made it very difficult for the woman to break it.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to send away his wife

to break the marriage vows

his wife: The English phrase his wife is a way to speak in general.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

one’s wife (ESV)

for any reason: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as any reason can also be translated as “any cause.” For example:

for just any reason? (CEV)

for any and every reason (NIV)

for no matter what reason

Deuteronomy 24:1 says that a man could divorce his wife if he found something indecent about her. There were different ideas among the Pharisees themselves about how to interpret that verse. The Pharisees wanted to know what Jesus thought “something indecent” meant. Was it limited to just sexual unfaithfulness? Or could a man divorce his wife for anything he might be unhappy about?“Their question reflects the intra-Pharisaic debate between the “schools” of Shammai and Hillel concerning the correct interpretation of Deut 24:1. In that passage God apparently permitted divorce for “anything indecent.” Shammai, placing the emphasis on “indecent,” took this to refer to sexual unfaithfulness; Hillel, placing the emphasis on “anything,” allowed divorce even for as trivial an offense as a wife burning her husband’s food (m. Git. 9:10).” (Bloomberg, page 288). Whichever way he answered, some Pharisees would disagree with him.