What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?
Key Scriptures and spiritual guidance on divorce
The Bible addresses divorce in several passages, emphasizing the sanctity of marriage and the importance of commitment. In the book of Matthew, Jesus teaches that divorce should only be considered in cases of marital unfaithfulness. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, advises believers who are married to stay together and not seek divorce. While divorce is seen as a painful and difficult process, the Bible also offers guidance and hope for those who have experienced it, encouraging forgiveness, healing, and restoration.
Bible Verses About Divorce
Matthew 5:32
“But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Matthew 19:6
“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
1 Corinthians 7:10-11
“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.”
Malachi 2:16
“The man who hates and divorces his wife, says the Lord, the God of Israel, does violence to the one he should protect, says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.”
Mark 10:9
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Romans 7:2-3
“For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.”
Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
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