Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
DEUTERONOMY 24:4KJVWhat does Deuteronomy 24:4 mean?
Deuteronomy 24:4 says that if a man divorces his wife and she marries someone else, her first husband is not allowed to marry her again if she is divorced or widowed from her second husband. This is described as something detestable to God and is forbidden so that the land given by God is not defiled.
In this verse, Moses is giving the Israelites a law about marriage and divorce as they prepare to enter the land God promised them. The situation described is specific: a man divorces his wife, she remarries, and then her second marriage ends. The law strictly forbids the first husband from taking her back, emphasizing the seriousness of marriage vows and the importance of keeping the land morally pure according to God’s standards.
The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 24:4
- "Defiled" (נִטְמְאָה, nitme’ah): This word means to become unclean or impure. Here, it refers to the woman’s changed status after remarrying, which is seen as making it inappropriate for her to return to her first husband.
- "Abomination" (תוֹעֵבָה, to’evah): This word means something detestable or repulsive, especially in a religious or moral sense. The verse uses strong language to show that this act is not just discouraged but is deeply offensive to God.
- "Sin" (חָטָא, chata’): This word means to miss the mark or to do wrong. The verse warns that allowing this kind of remarriage would cause the land itself to "sin," highlighting the communal impact of individual actions.
Why Deuteronomy 24:4 matters
- This verse clarifies that the law is not just about personal relationships but also about the holiness of the community and the land itself, showing a link between private choices and public consequences.
- Deuteronomy 24:4 helps prevent the misuse of divorce laws, making it clear that marriage is not something to be entered and exited lightly or manipulated for personal advantage.
- The strong language ("abomination") shows how seriously God views faithfulness and purity in relationships, setting a high standard for the Israelites as they settle in the promised land.