He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus’ response isn’t just about quoting Genesis; it’s a profound re-centering of the conversation. By pointing to "He who created them from the beginning," He’s directing them to the absolute, foundational intent of God, bypassing all the complicated human traditions and interpretations that had muddied the waters. This highlights that true understanding of relationships, especially marriage, is found not in evolving human laws, but in God's unchanging original design.
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. Jesus sidesteps their trick question by appealing to the original creation account in Genesis, pointing to God's foundational design for marriage as the ultimate authority. He then builds on this by quoting Genesis about leaving parents and becoming one flesh, setting the stage to condemn divorce.
Ever wonder why marriage feels so… complicated? Jesus cuts through the noise by pointing us to the very start.
When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with tricky questions about divorce, His response was simple yet profound: 'Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?'
Jesus doesn't consult rabbis or current trends. He goes straight to the source – the creation account in Genesis.
The Power of 'The Beginning'
The Pharisees appealed to the Law of Moses. Jesus countered with something even higher.
The Pharisees were referencing the Mosaic Law, which seemed to permit divorce under certain circumstances. They thought they had Jesus cornered. But Jesus’s response is a masterclass in divine authority.
Ask a follow-up
Beyond Human Law
Understand the original words
ktisas · Greek Verb
The act of bringing something into existence out of nothing, specifically referring to God's creative work at the beginning of time.
arsen kai thēly · Greek Noun/Adjective phrase
The fundamental, God-ordained binary distinction of human gender as established by the Creator, carrying equal dignity and distinct roles under God's design.
By referencing the creation account, Jesus bypasses the complex rabbinic debates of His day and grounds the sanctity of marriage in God's original, unchanging design, challenging the prevailing lax attitudes toward divorce.
c. 4000 BC
Creation of Adam and Eve
God creates the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, establishing the foundational model for marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Giving of the Mosaic Law
The Law of Moses is given to Israel, which includes regulations concerning divorce, such as the requirement of a written certificate of divorce.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Jewish people are exiled to Babylon. During this period and after their return, interpretations of divorce laws continued to be debated among Jewish teachers.
c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Development of Divorce Schools
Two major rabbinic schools, founded by Hillel and Shammai, emerge with differing interpretations on the grounds for divorce. Hillel's school allowed divorce for almost any reason, while Shammai's was more restrictive.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching on Marriage
Jesus directly confronts the Pharisees' questions about divorce, appealing to the creation account as the ultimate authority on God's design for marriage.
This is the foundational creation account Jesus refers to, establishing God's original design for humanity to be male and female, intended for companionship and procreation.
Genesis 2:21-24Jesus draws directly from this passage, highlighting the creation of Eve from Adam's side as a profound symbol of unity, which underscores the idea of 'one flesh' in marriage.
Malachi 2:15This prophet speaks about God's intention in creation, emphasizing that God made 'one man and one woman' to raise godly offspring, echoing Jesus' argument for the sanctity of marriage.
Romans 1:26-27While addressing different issues, this passage also references the natural order of creation, contrasting it with unnatural desires, and implicitly supports the male-female design for human relationships.
1 Corinthians 7:2Paul, echoing Jesus' concerns, advises marriage to avoid sexual immorality, reinforcing the idea that marriage is the God-ordained context for sexual union, consistent with the creation design.
barnesMatthew 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,"
And he answered and said ... - Instead of referring to the opinions of either party, Jesus called their attention to the original design of marriage, to the authority of Moses an authority acknowledged by them both. Have ye not read? - Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:21-22. "And said, For this cause," etc., Genesis 2:24. That is, God, at the beginning, made but one m…
calvinMatthew 19:3-9: "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"
- 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…
Jesus’ response isn’t just about quoting Genesis; it’s a profound re-centering of the conversation. By pointing to "He who created them from the beginning," He’s directing them to the absolute, foundational intent of God, bypassing all the complicated human traditions and interpretations that had muddied the waters. This highlights that true understanding of relationships, especially marriage, is found not in evolving human laws, but in God's unchanging original design.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. Jesus sidesteps their trick question by appealing to the original creation account in Genesis, pointing to God's foundational design for marriage as the ultimate authority. He then builds on this by quoting Genesis about leaving parents and becoming one flesh, setting the stage to condemn divorce.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. Jesus sidesteps their trick question by appealing to the original creation account in Genesis, pointing to God's foundational design for marriage as the ultimate authority. He then builds on this by quoting Genesis about leaving parents and becoming one flesh, setting the stage to condemn divorce.
"He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female," — Jesus’ response isn’t just about quoting Genesis; it’s a profound re-centering of the conversation. By pointing to "He who created them from the beginning," He’s directing them to the absolute, found…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026