What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus redirects the Pharisees' focus from Moses' allowance of divorce to God's original design for marriage, emphasizing that the divine union of husband and wife is paramount. This verse isn't just about marriage itself, but a profound statement that anything established by God is to be held as sacred and unchangeable by human decree.
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Pharisees are testing Jesus by asking if divorce is permissible for any reason. Jesus responds by pointing to God's original design for marriage at creation, emphasizing that male and female were made to be one flesh. He concludes that what God has united, humans should not break apart.
Did you know Jesus elevates marriage beyond a mere legal agreement? He shows us it's a sacred bond originating with God Himself.
Jesus' response to the Pharisees in Mark 10:1-12 highlights the divine institution of marriage. When asked about divorce, Jesus doesn't just state a rule; He points to creation itself. From the very beginning, God designed male and female to come together, leaving parents to form a new, unified 'one flesh' union. This isn't just a human decision or contract; it's a profound joining ordained by God. Therefore, any attempt by humans to break this sacred tie goes against God's original design.
Why did Moses allow divorce if God intended marriage to be permanent? Jesus reveals a crucial distinction between God's perfect will and human reality.
The Pharisees challenge Jesus by referencing Moses' permission for divorce. Jesus clarifies that this permission was not God's ideal, but a concession made 'for the hardness of your hearts.' This means that while God's perfect design is for an indissoluble marriage, He, in His wisdom and mercy, allowed for certain provisions in a fallen world to mitigate greater harm. However, Jesus emphatically redirects His followers back to the original, unchanging divine standard, reminding them that this concession does not negate God's ultimate will for marital unity.
Understand the original words
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synezeuxen · Greek Verb
The divine act of binding two people together in marriage, underscoring that the covenant is fundamentally initiated and sanctified by God rather than human contract.
chōrizetō · Greek Verb
The act of dissolving a marriage bond; biblically condemned in this context as an intrusion into what God has sovereignly unified.
Jesus' teaching on the permanence of marriage, directly countering the prevailing lax attitudes exemplified by figures like Herod and the Pharisaic interpretations of Moses' law, calls for a return to God's original, sacred design for marital union.
c. 1900-1800 BC
Abrahamic Covenant Established
God establishes a foundational covenant with Abraham, promising descendants and land. This sets a precedent for God's binding promises and relationship with His people.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Exodus and Law Given
God rescues Israel from Egypt and gives the Mosaic Law at Mount Sinai. This includes laws on marriage and divorce, which Jesus will later address.
c. 900 BC
Malachi Condemns Divorce
The prophet Malachi speaks against the Israelites' prevalent practice of divorce, stating God hates it. This highlights a historical tension regarding marital fidelity.
c. 50-40 BC
Herod the Great Divorces and Remarries
The Idumean ruler Herod the Great divorces his wife Doris to marry Mariamne, a Hasmonean princess. This political marriage and divorce illustrates the laxity and manipulation of marriage laws among powerful figures.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus Teaches on Marriage and Divorce
Jesus is questioned by Pharisees about the permissibility of divorce. He responds by referencing the creation ordinance and stating God's ideal for marriage is indissoluble.
This passage is the foundational text Jesus draws from, stating 'a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh,' establishing the divine ideal of unity that marriage is meant to reflect.
Matthew 19:4-6This parallel account in Matthew directly quotes Genesis 2:24 and repeats Jesus' teaching from Mark, emphasizing that the union of husband and wife is God's design and not to be broken by human decree.
Malachi 2:14-16This prophetic passage condemns divorce, highlighting that God hates infidelity and betrayal within marriage, aligning with Jesus' strong stance against dissolving the bond God has created.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11The Apostle Paul echoes Jesus' teaching, instructing believers not to separate from their spouses, reinforcing the indissolubility of marriage except in specific, extreme circumstances recognized by Christ.
bengelMark 10:9: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
[9. Ὁ Θεὸς — ἄνθρωπος , God—man ) Whatsoever God doeth and ordaineth, it is man’s part to regard as an established principle. It is an impiety to accept as authoritative what God rejects; or to approve of what God censures.—V. g.]
calvinMark 10:2-12: "And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him."
- And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever? 4. Who answering said to them, Have you not read, that he who made them at first, [593] made them male and female? 5. And he said, Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall be one flesh. 6. The…
Jesus redirects the Pharisees' focus from Moses' allowance of divorce to God's original design for marriage, emphasizing that the divine union of husband and wife is paramount. This verse isn't just about marriage itself, but a profound statement that anything established by God is to be held as sacred and unchangeable by human decree.
Pharisees are testing Jesus by asking if divorce is permissible for any reason. Jesus responds by pointing to God's original design for marriage at creation, emphasizing that male and female were made to be one flesh. He concludes that what God has united, humans should not break apart.
Pharisees are testing Jesus by asking if divorce is permissible for any reason. Jesus responds by pointing to God's original design for marriage at creation, emphasizing that male and female were made to be one flesh. He concludes that what God has united, humans should not break apart.
"What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”" — Jesus redirects the Pharisees' focus from Moses' allowance of divorce to God's original design for marriage, emphasizing that the divine union of husband and wife is paramount. This verse isn't just…
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Last reviewed October 2026