Mark 10:4 (KJV)

What does Mark 10:4 mean?

Mark 10:4 records the Pharisees reminding Jesus that Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and send his wife away. This verse points to the Old Testament law that made divorce possible under certain conditions, as given by Moses.

In this scene, the Pharisees are speaking to Jesus during a discussion about divorce. They reference what Moses permitted in the Law, specifically the practice of giving a written document—often called a "bill of divorcement"—to formally end a marriage. The verse sets up the context for Jesus to respond with his own teaching about marriage and divorce.

The Greek behind Mark 10:4

• "Suffered" (ἐπέτρεψεν, epetrepsen): This Greek word means "allowed" or "permitted." The Pharisees are not saying Moses commanded divorce, but that he made it allowable under the law.
• "Bill" (βιβλίον, biblion): This word refers to a written document, in this case a legal certificate. The use of a written "bill" made the divorce official and public, not just a private decision.
• "Divorcement" (ἀποστάσιον, apostasion): This term means a formal notice of separation. It highlights that the process involved a legal step, not just abandonment.

Why Mark 10:4 matters

• Mark 10:4 clarifies that the law of Moses did not require divorce, but made a way for it to be handled in an orderly, documented way.
• The verse shows the Pharisees focusing on what was permitted, rather than the deeper intent or ideal behind marriage.
• This sets up the contrast between what was allowed because of human hardness and what Jesus will teach about God's original design for marriage.