Matthew 19:4
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus doesn't just quote Genesis; he anchors the entire discussion about marriage back to the very beginning of creation. By starting there, he bypasses all the complexities and exceptions the Pharisees were bringing up, pointing to God's original, perfect design for male and female union. This establishes a fundamental truth that transcends any subsequent human laws or interpretations.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's permissible to divorce one's wife for any reason. Jesus responds by pointing them back to the original creation account in Genesis, arguing that God's initial design for humanity sets the standard for marriage. He emphasizes that God made them male and female from the beginning, implying a foundational, enduring union.
When faced with tricky questions about relationships, Jesus didn't dig through complex legal arguments. Instead, he pointed to the very beginning, to God's initial creation.
Jesus's strategy here is powerful. The Pharisees were trying to trap him by asking about divorce laws, which had become complicated and often used to justify personal desires. But Jesus sidesteps their legalistic debate and goes straight to the source: Genesis.
The Foundation of Marriage
By asking, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” Jesus reminds them of God's foundational design for humanity. This wasn't about following man-made rules or interpretations; it was about God's intention woven into the fabric of existence from the start. This appeal to creation sets the stage for understanding marriage as a divine institution, not just a social contract.
Jesus contrasted the 'hardness of hearts' that led to human laws with God's perfect, original intention for marriage.
The Pharisees were relying on the Law of Moses, specifically regarding divorce. But Jesus calls them back to a truth that predates and surpasses any human legislation. The creation account in Genesis isn't just a historical record; it's a theological statement about God's ideal for humanity.
The 'Why' Behind the 'What'
Jesus's appeal to 'the beginning' highlights that God's design for marriage was about unity and permanence. While later laws (like Moses's) might have made concessions due to human sin and stubbornness (what the commentators call 'hardness of heart'), the original intent remained unchanged. Jesus is asserting that God's perfect will, as established at creation, is the ultimate standard, not the accommodations made for flawed humanity.
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.
Jesus bypasses the complex rabbinic debates of his day by going straight back to the creation account, grounding his teaching on marriage in God's original, unchanging design.
c. 4000 BC— this verse
Creation of Adam and Eve
God creates the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, establishing the foundational model of marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
c. 1446 BC
The Law of Moses Given
The Torah is given to Israel, including laws that address divorce. This later development is what the Pharisees will try to use to challenge Jesus.
c. 400 BC
Second Temple Period Begins
A period of Jewish history marked by various interpretations of the Law and significant debates within Jewish society, including differing views on divorce.
c. 20 BC - AD 40
Debates on Divorce Flourish
Prominent rabbinic schools, like those of Hillel and Shammai, develop opposing views on the grounds for divorce, creating a context of legal contention.
This is the foundational creation account that Jesus directly references, establishing the origin of humanity as both male and female, intended for union.
Genesis 2:24This passage, immediately following the creation of Eve, explains the 'one flesh' union of man and woman, underscoring the permanence of the marital bond that Jesus emphasizes.
Malachi 2:15This prophet also appeals to the creation account, highlighting that God made 'one man and one woman' to emphasize the sanctity and singular union of marriage, similar to Jesus' argument.
1 Corinthians 6:16Paul echoes the 'one flesh' concept from Genesis, explaining how sexual union unites believers, reinforcing the idea of profound, intended unity in marriage that Jesus is discussing.
Ephesians 5:31This passage explicitly links the Genesis account of man leaving father and mother to cleave to his wife with Christ's relationship to the Church, illustrating marriage as a divinely intended, profound union.
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 doesn't just quote Genesis; he anchors the entire discussion about marriage back to the very beginning of creation. By starting there, he bypasses all the complexities and exceptions the Pharisees were bringing up, pointing to God's original, perfect design for male and female union. This establishes a fundamental truth that transcends any subsequent human laws or interpretations.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's permissible to divorce one's wife for any reason. Jesus responds by pointing them back to the original creation account in Genesis, arguing that God's initial design for humanity sets the standard for marriage. He emphasizes that God made them male and female from the beginning, implying a foundational, enduring union.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's permissible to divorce one's wife for any reason. Jesus responds by pointing them back to the original creation account in Genesis, arguing that God's initial design for humanity sets the standard for marriage. He emphasizes that God made them male and female from the beginning, implying a foundational, enduring union.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 19:4 is available in the Sola app.
"He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female," — Jesus doesn't just quote Genesis; he anchors the entire discussion about marriage back to the very beginning of creation. By starting there, he bypasses all the complexities and exceptions the Phar…
