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OET (OET-LV) And I_am_saying to_you_all that whoever wishfully may_send_away the wife of_him not/lest for sexual_immorality, and may_marry another, is_causing_adultery.
And the one having_been_sent_away, marrying is_causing_adultery.
OET (OET-RV) Now I’m telling you that anyone who sends away his wife because of sexual immorality and then remarries, is also causing adultery. Also the woman who was sent away if she remarries, she causes adultery.
In this section, Jesus led his disciples out of Galilee and passed through the land of Perea on his way to Jerusalem. While in Perea, some Pharisees came to him and asked him a question about divorce. They hoped that he would say something that they thought was wrong so that they could shame him. But Jesus taught about divorce based on Scripture. (This section has more information about divorce than 5:31–32.)
Jesus also taught that believers may choose not to marry so that they can fully devote themselves to serving God. Jesus and Paul are examples of this way of living.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Teaching about divorce
Concerning divorce and not marrying
A Discussion About Divorce and Celibacy (GW)
There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 10:1–12 and Luke 16:18.
Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality,
I tell you(plur) that any man who divorces his wife but it is not because of adultery,
I tell you(plur) this: if a man’s wife has not done sexual sin, and yet he divorces her
Now I tell you: The clause Now I tell you last occurred at 17:12a. Translate it here as you did there.
whoever divorces his wife: In this context, the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as whoever refers only to men.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
any man who divorces his wife (GNT)
anyone who divorces his wife (NIV)
except for sexual immorality: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as except for sexual immorality indicates that the only acceptable reason for divorce is sexual immorality.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
except for marital unfaithfulness (NIV)
for any cause other than her unfaithfulness (GNT)
and she has not committed adultery
and it was not because of adultery
In some languages, it will be more natural to put this clause at the end of 19:9. See the reordered example in the Display.
sexual immorality: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sexual immorality is a general term. It refers to any unacceptable form of sexual relations. Here Jesus used this word to refer to sexual relations outside of marriage.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
adultery
sexual relations with another man (NCV)
and marries another woman, commits adultery.”
and he marries another woman, he commits adultery.”
and marries someone else, he has become an adulterer.”
and marries another woman: The subject of the verb marries is the same as the subject of “divorces” in 19:9a. It is “any man.” So the phrase another woman refers to “any other woman.”
commits adultery: The Greek word that the BSB translates as commits adultery refers to the act of sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse. In the law of Moses, adultery was strictly forbidden.
The KJV follows some Greek manuscripts that add a phrase to this verse, probably to make it similar to 5:32. This phrase could be translated as “and whoever marries the woman who was divorced commits adultery.” Most English versions do not follow these manuscripts and add this phrase. It is recommended that you do not include it either.
(reordered) (NCV:) I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if his wife has sexual relations with another man.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
This verse is similar to [5:32](../05/32.md), although there are some significant differences. See how you translated that verse for help with this verse.
Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast
δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγω Δέ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὅς ἄν ἀπολύσῃ τήν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μή ἐπί πορνείᾳ καί γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται Καί ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμῶν μοιχᾶται)
The word But introduces what Jesus wishes to say about divorce in contrast to what Moses permitted (see [19:8](../19/08.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces a contrast, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: [In contrast,]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
λέγω & ὑμῖν
˱I˲_˓am˒_saying & ˱to˲_you_all
Jesus uses the clause I say to you this to emphasize what he is telling the Pharisees. Use a natural form in your language for emphasizing the truth and importance of a statement. Alternate translation: [I want you to know]
Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions
ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ, καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην, μοιχᾶται
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγω Δέ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὅς ἄν ἀπολύσῃ τήν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μή ἐπί πορνείᾳ καί γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται Καί ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμῶν μοιχᾶται)
If it would appear in your language that Jesus was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: [the only time a man is allowed to divorce his wife is when there is sexual immorality. Otherwise, when he divorces her and marries another, he commits adultery]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
πορνείᾳ
sexual_immorality
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind immorality, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what is sexually immoral] or [sexually immoral behavior]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
ἄλλην
another
Jesus is using the adjective another as a noun to mean another woman. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [another person]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
(Occurrence -1) μοιχᾶται
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγω Δέ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὅς ἄν ἀπολύσῃ τήν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μή ἐπί πορνείᾳ καί γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται Καί ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμῶν μοιχᾶται)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of adultery, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [becomes an adulterer … becomes an adulterer] or [does what is adulterous … does what is adulterous]
Note 8 topic: translate-textvariants
καὶ ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσας μοιχᾶται
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγω Δέ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὅς ἄν ἀπολύσῃ τήν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μή ἐπί πορνείᾳ καί γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται Καί ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμῶν μοιχᾶται)
Many ancient manuscripts include the words and the one having married one that has been divorced commits adultery. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts do not include these words. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἀπολελυμένην
˓having_been˒_sent_away
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was the woman’s husband. Alternate translation: [one whom her husband has divorced]
19:9 Jesus permits only one legitimate reason for a man to divorce: if his wife has been unfaithful (see 5:32). In the face of those who thought divorce could be taken lightly, Jesus affirms God’s created order: Marriage was designed to be permanent (see Mark 10:11-12).
• commits adultery: This speaks only of the man who divorces his wife unlawfully. In such a case, his remarriage is adulterous. Jesus’ motivation is to reestablish the permanency of marriage.
OET (OET-LV) And I_am_saying to_you_all that whoever wishfully may_send_away the wife of_him not/lest for sexual_immorality, and may_marry another, is_causing_adultery.
And the one having_been_sent_away, marrying is_causing_adultery.
OET (OET-RV) Now I’m telling you that anyone who sends away his wife because of sexual immorality and then remarries, is also causing adultery. Also the woman who was sent away if she remarries, she causes adultery.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.