Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Divorce And Adultery?
11 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Divorce And Adultery in the Bible
What does the Bible say about divorce and adultery? Browse 14 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Divorce And Adultery
- 1Deuteronomy 24:1
“When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. some: Heb. matter of nakedness divorcement: Heb. cutting off”
KJV - 2Malachi 2:16
“For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. that he: or, if he hate her, put her away putting: Heb. to put away”
KJV - 3Matthew 5:28
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
KJV - 4Matthew 5:31
“It hath been said , Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:”
KJV - 5Matthew 5:32
“But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
KJV - 6Matthew 19:3
“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?”
KJV - 7Matthew 19:9
“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
KJV - 8Mark 10:11
“And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.”
KJV - 9Luke 16:18
“Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
KJV - 10Romans 7:2
“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Divorce And Adultery? (2 Verses)
“When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. some: Heb. matter of nakedness divorcement: Heb. cutting off”
“For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. that he: or, if he hate her, put her away putting: Heb. to put away”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Divorce And Adultery? (9 Verses)
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
“It hath been said , Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:”
“But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
“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 I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
“And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.”
“Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.”
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Divorce And Adultery
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about divorce and adultery. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about divorce and adultery and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about divorce and adultery is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on divorce and adultery needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about divorce and adultery with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about divorce and adultery, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Divorce And Adultery?
You have studied 11 verses about divorce and adultery. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.