And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

MARK 10:5KJV
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Mark 10:5 (KJV)

What does Mark 10:5 mean?

Mark 10:5 means that Jesus explained to the people that Moses allowed certain rules, like divorce, because their hearts were hard and resistant to God’s ways. The command was not an ideal, but a concession to their stubbornness.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, who had asked Him about divorce. He points out that Moses’ instructions were given because the people were unwilling to fully follow God’s intentions for marriage. Jesus is highlighting that the law was shaped by the reality of people’s attitudes, not because it was God’s perfect plan.

The Greek behind Mark 10:5

  • The word for "hardness" is σκληροκαρδία (sklērokardia), which combines the ideas of being hard or stubborn (σκληρός, sklēros) and heart (καρδία, kardia). This word emphasizes a deep, inner resistance to change or compassion.
  • The Greek word for "precept" is ἐντολή (entolē), which means a command or instruction. Here, it refers to the specific rule Moses gave, showing it was a formal allowance, not a broad approval.

Why Mark 10:5 matters

  • Mark 10:5 helps clarify that some biblical laws were given as accommodations to human weakness, not as expressions of God’s highest desire.
  • This verse sets up Jesus’ later teaching in the chapter, where He points to God’s original design for marriage, contrasting it with what was allowed because of human stubbornness.
  • Understanding this helps readers see the difference between what God permits because of people’s choices and what God truly wants for human relationships.

Where else these words appear

“hardness” Greek G4641 · used in 3 verses

  • Matthew 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
  • Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

“precept” Greek G1785 · used in 65 verses

  • Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
  • John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
  • Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

“this” Greek G5026 · used in 119 verses

  • Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
  • Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
  • Acts 23:13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.