Deuteronomy 24:2
And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
Original Language Analysis
וְיָֽצְאָ֖ה
And when she is departed out
H3318
וְיָֽצְאָ֖ה
And when she is departed out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
1 of 6
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
מִבֵּית֑וֹ
of his house
H1004
מִבֵּית֑וֹ
of his house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
2 of 6
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְהָֽלְכָ֖ה
she may go
H1980
וְהָֽלְכָ֖ה
she may go
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
3 of 6
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וְהָֽיְתָ֥ה
H1961
וְהָֽיְתָ֥ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
4 of 6
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Historical Context
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, divorced women faced difficult options - return to father's household, become dependent on charity, or enter morally compromising situations. Permission to remarry provided honorable path forward.
The certificate of divorce documented that she was legitimately free to remarry, protecting her reputation and her new marriage's legitimacy.
Questions for Reflection
- What does permission to remarry teach about the finality of divorce?
- How does this provision demonstrate mercy toward those experiencing divorce?
- Why is legal freedom to remarry important for divorced persons?
- What does the clean break and new beginning teach about moving forward from sin's consequences?
- How should churches balance teaching marriage permanence while acknowledging divorce's reality?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. The divorced woman receives legal freedom to remarry. This legitimizes her new relationship, preventing her from being trapped in unmarried limbo or subject to accusation of adultery for subsequent marriage.
The permission to be another man's wife indicates the divorce genuinely severs the first marriage. Though God hates divorce, the legal termination creates actual end to the marriage covenant, not merely separation while remaining married.
This provision demonstrates mercy - though divorce results from sin, the divorced person is not forever punished by prohibition from remarriage. Legal divorce creates clean break allowing new beginning.
However, verse 4 will prohibit the first husband from remarrying her after she marries another, preventing treating marriage as revolving door and protecting the woman from manipulation.