And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

MARK 10:11KJV
Know the Bible

Mark 10:11 (KJV)

What does Mark 10:11 mean?

Mark 10:11 records Jesus saying that if a man divorces his wife and marries another woman, he commits adultery against his first wife. This statement sets a clear standard about the seriousness of breaking the marriage bond and entering a new marriage while the first spouse is still living.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to His disciples after the Pharisees questioned Him about divorce. The verse highlights how Jesus raises the bar from the common practices of the time, emphasizing the lasting commitment intended in marriage. Jesus frames divorce and remarriage not just as a legal matter, but as a moral and relational issue that affects the original spouse.

The Greek behind Mark 10:11

  • "put away" (ἀπολύσῃ, apolysē): This Greek word means to release or send away, often used for divorce. It shows that Jesus is specifically talking about the act of formally ending a marriage.
  • "adultery" (μοιχᾶται, moichatai): This word means to be unfaithful to a spouse. By using this term, Jesus equates remarriage after divorce (when the first spouse is still alive) with being unfaithful to the original marriage.
  • "against her" (ἐπ’ αὐτήν, ep’ autēn): This phrase makes it clear that the wrongdoing is not just a general sin, but specifically a wrong done to the first wife. It personalizes the impact of the action.

Why Mark 10:11 matters

  • Mark 10:11 clarifies that Jesus views marriage as a binding commitment, not something to be ended lightly or for convenience.
  • The verse challenges common assumptions of Jesus’ day, where men often had more freedom to divorce than women, by stressing the harm done to the wife.
  • This teaching fits into a larger conversation in Mark 10, where Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard in relationships, reflecting God’s original intention for marriage.

Where else these words appear

“adultery” Greek G3429 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 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.
  • Matthew 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.
  • Mark 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

“marry” Greek G1060 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 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.
  • Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

“away” Greek G630 · used in 63 verses

  • Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
  • Mark 8:3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
  • Luke 23:22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

“another” Greek G243 · used in 141 verses

  • Matthew 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
  • Mark 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
  • Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.