And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
MATTHEW 19:4KJVWhat does Matthew 19:4 mean?
Matthew 19:4 records Jesus responding to a question by reminding his listeners that, according to Scripture, God created humans "male and female" from the very beginning. Jesus points his audience back to the creation story to ground his teaching about human relationships in God's original design.
In this scene, Jesus is answering a group of Pharisees who are questioning him about divorce. By referencing the creation account, Jesus emphasizes that marriage and human identity were established by God at the start of creation, not invented later by people. This sets the stage for his teaching about the purpose and seriousness of marriage.
The Greek behind Matthew 19:4
- ἀρχῇ (archē) — "beginning": This word refers to the very start or origin of something. Here, it highlights that Jesus is appealing to the original creation, not later customs or traditions.
- ἄρσεν (arsen) and θῆλυ (thēly) — "male" and "female": These are the Greek words for male and female, directly echoing the language of Genesis. Jesus deliberately uses these terms to stress the intentional creation of two distinct sexes.
- ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen) — "made": This verb means "to make" or "to create." The use of this word underlines God's active role as Creator, not just a passive observer.
Why Matthew 19:4 matters
- Matthew 19:4 clarifies that Jesus bases his understanding of marriage and gender on the creation account, not on later cultural practices or debates.
- The verse sets up the argument that marriage is rooted in God's original intent, which is important for understanding the rest of Jesus' teaching in this passage.
- By quoting Genesis, Jesus shows that his response is not a new teaching but a return to foundational truths recognized by his listeners.