Deuteronomy 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.
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 24
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אִ֛ישׁ
When a man
H376
אִ֛ישׁ
When a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
3 of 24
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וְהָיָ֞ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֞ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
6 of 24
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
7 of 24
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
לֹ֧א
H3808
לֹ֧א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מָ֤צָא
because he hath found
H4672
מָ֤צָא
because he hath found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
9 of 24
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
חֵ֣ן
no favour
H2580
חֵ֣ן
no favour
Strong's:
H2580
Word #:
10 of 24
graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
בְּעֵינָ֗יו
in his eyes
H5869
בְּעֵינָ֗יו
in his eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
11 of 24
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
12 of 24
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מָ֤צָא
because he hath found
H4672
מָ֤צָא
because he hath found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
13 of 24
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
עֶרְוַ֣ת
uncleanness
H6172
עֶרְוַ֣ת
uncleanness
Strong's:
H6172
Word #:
15 of 24
nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish)
דָּבָ֔ר
some
H1697
דָּבָ֔ר
some
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
16 of 24
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
וְכָ֨תַב
in her then let him write
H3789
וְכָ֨תַב
in her then let him write
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
17 of 24
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
סֵ֤פֶר
her a bill
H5612
סֵ֤פֶר
her a bill
Strong's:
H5612
Word #:
19 of 24
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
כְּרִיתֻת֙
of divorcement
H3748
כְּרִיתֻת֙
of divorcement
Strong's:
H3748
Word #:
20 of 24
a cutting (of the matrimonial bond), i.e., divorce
וְנָתַ֣ן
and give
H5414
וְנָתַ֣ן
and give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
21 of 24
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
בְּיָדָ֔הּ
it in her hand
H3027
בְּיָדָ֔הּ
it in her hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
22 of 24
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
Cross References
Deuteronomy 22:13If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,Isaiah 50:1Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.Jeremiah 3:8And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.Deuteronomy 22:19And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.Deuteronomy 22:29Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.Exodus 21:10If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.Deuteronomy 24:3And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Historical Context
First-century Judaism divided between Hillel's school (allowing divorce for any reason) and Shammai's school (restricting it to sexual immorality). Jesus sided with the stricter view while pointing beyond law to creation ideal.
The certificate of divorce protected women's legal status, enabling remarriage without stigma of adultery or abandonment.
Questions for Reflection
- What is the difference between permitting divorce and commanding or recommending it?
- How does this law protect women while accommodating human sin?
- What does Jesus' teaching reveal about God's original design versus Mosaic accommodation?
- Why is the tension between ideal and accommodation necessary in fallen world?
- How should churches balance God's hatred of divorce with pastoral care for those experiencing marital breakdown?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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. This law regulates divorce but does not command or recommend it. Moses permitted divorce due to hardness of hearts (Matthew 19:8), providing legal structure for what God never intended but human sin made necessary.
The phrase some uncleanness (ervat dabar) became subject of rabbinic debate - what constitutes legitimate grounds? The intentional vagueness led some to permit divorce for trivial reasons. Jesus later clarifies that Moses accommodated divorce due to human sin, but God's original design was permanent marriage.
Requiring written bill of divorcement protected women from arbitrary dismissal and informal abandonment. The formal process created legal documentation of divorce, allowing the woman to remarry without accusation of adultery. This was merciful provision within fallen system.
Reformed theology affirms God's hatred of divorce while recognizing that some marriages suffer irreparable breakdown through sin. The tension between ideal (permanent marriage) and accommodation (permitted divorce) reflects living in fallen world.