Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Divorce And Separation?
13 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Divorce And Separation in the Bible
Discover 19 powerful Bible verses about divorce and separation. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential love & relationships topic.
Top 10 Verses About Divorce And Separation
- 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 - 2
- 3Malachi 2:15
“And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. residue: or, excellency godly: Heb. seed of God treacherously: or, unfaithfully”
KJV - 4Malachi 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 - 5Matthew 5:31
“It hath been said , Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:”
KJV - 6Matthew 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 - 7Matthew 19:1
“And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;”
KJV - 8Matthew 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,”
KJV - 9Matthew 19:6
“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
KJV - 10Matthew 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
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Divorce And Separation? (4 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”
“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.”
“And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. residue: or, excellency godly: Heb. seed of God treacherously: or, unfaithfully”
“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 Separation? (9 Verses)
“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.”
“And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;”
“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,”
“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
“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 the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.”
“Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
“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 Separation
- 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 separation. 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 separation 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 separation 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 separation needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about divorce and separation 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 separation, 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 Separation?
You have studied 13 verses about divorce and separation. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.