So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The emphasis here isn't just on two people becoming one flesh, but on the fact that "what God has joined together" is a sacred union that transcends individual will. This means the bond isn't merely a human agreement but a divine weaving together that man has no right to unravel.
So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking about the legality of divorce, a contentious issue at the time. Jesus responds by going back to the creation account, emphasizing that from the beginning, marriage was intended to be a complete union of one man and one woman. He then pronounces that this divine joining is unbreakable by human hands.
Jesus goes beyond a simple contract, revealing a profound, God-ordained unity. What does it truly mean for two to become 'one flesh'?
Jesus anchors His teaching on marriage in the very creation account. He states in Matthew 19:5, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.'
This 'one flesh' is not just a legal or emotional bond; it's a fundamental redefinition of identity.
A New Identity
Jesus issues a stern warning against separation. Who holds the ultimate authority in marriage, and what does it mean for us to respect that?
The climax of Jesus' statement is powerful: 'What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.' This isn't just advice; it's a divine decree.
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The Divine Seal
Understand the original words
sarx · Greek Noun
Used in Genesis and here to describe the marriage union, it signifies a profound, ontological unity between a man and a woman that transcends mere physical attraction or legal contract, creating a singular entity in God’s sight.
synezeuxen · Greek Verb
Refers to a legal or divine bond or yoking. In this context, it emphasizes that marriage is an institution established and sanctioned by God, rather than a purely human invention.
chorizeto · Greek Verb
To divide, dissolve, or break apart. Jesus uses this word to forbid human interference in the permanent bond that God has established in marriage.
Jesus' strong declaration about the permanence of marriage, set against the backdrop of heated debates and varying interpretations of Mosaic law regarding divorce, highlights his radical re-establishment of God's original, ideal intention for marital union.
c. 29 AD— this verse
Jesus teaches on marriage and divorce
Jesus is questioned by Pharisees about the permissibility of divorce, which was a contentious issue in Jewish society at the time. He responds by referencing the creation account and God's original intent for marriage as a lifelong, inseparable union.
c. 90 AD
Codification of divorce laws debated
Following the destruction of the Second Temple, rabbinic Judaism solidified its interpretations of Jewish law. Debates continued regarding the grounds for divorce, with differing schools of thought offering varying permissions and restrictions.
c. 3rd-4th Century AD
Early Christian views on divorce solidify
As Christianity developed, early Church fathers grappled with Jesus' teachings on divorce, often emphasizing its indissolubility. Interpretations varied on whether exceptions, like adultery, were permissible grounds for separation.
This passage describes the creation of male and female and God's command to be fruitful and multiply, laying the foundational context for Jesus' teaching on the one-flesh union in marriage.
Genesis 2:24This verse is the very passage Jesus quotes to establish the principle that a man shall leave his parents and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh, directly supporting the 'one flesh' concept.
Malachi 2:14-16Malachi speaks against divorce, calling it a betrayal and a covering of one's garment with violence, echoing Jesus' strong stance against separating what God has joined.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11Paul instructs believers not to separate if married, and if they do separate, they should remain unmarried or be reconciled, directly applying the principle of not putting asunder what God has joined.
Ephesians 5:22-33This passage likens the marriage union to Christ and the Church, emphasizing the profound spiritual depth and sacredness of the marital bond that mirrors Christ's love for His bride.
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…
henryMatthew 19:3-12: "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?"
19:3-12 The Pharisees were desirous of drawing something from Jesus which they might represent as contrary to the law of Moses. Cases about marriage have been numerous, and sometimes perplexed; made so, not by the law of God, but by the lusts and follies of men; and often people fix what they will do, before they ask for advice. Jesus replied by as…
The emphasis here isn't just on two people becoming one flesh, but on the fact that "what God has joined together" is a sacred union that transcends individual will. This means the bond isn't merely a human agreement but a divine weaving together that man has no right to unravel.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking about the legality of divorce, a contentious issue at the time. Jesus responds by going back to the creation account, emphasizing that from the beginning, marriage was intended to be a complete union of one man and one woman. He then pronounces that this divine joining is unbreakable by human hands.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking about the legality of divorce, a contentious issue at the time. Jesus responds by going back to the creation account, emphasizing that from the beginning, marriage was intended to be a complete union of one man and one woman. He then pronounces that this divine joining is unbreakable by human hands.
"So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”" — The emphasis here isn't just on two people becoming one flesh, but on the fact that "what God has joined together" is a sacred union that transcends individual will. This means the bond isn't mer…
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Last reviewed October 2026