Dictionary of Bible Themes Usually initiated by the husband who issued his wife with a certificate of divorce and sent her from his home, divorce broke the marriage bond and allowed parties to remarry. It was not part of God's original purpose for marriage, and is permitted only because of human sinfulness. God is depicted as taking divorce proceedings against adulterous Israel. Mark 10:4The nature of divorce Divorce dissolves a marriage See also pp Mt 19:7 Leviticus 22:12-13The certificate of divorce was a legal document ending the marriage. Numbers 30:9Divorce ends the restrictions on a priest's daughter which were the result of her marriage Deuteronomy 24:1-2Following divorce a husband is no longer responsible for his wife Hosea 2:2Matthew 5:31 Divorce properly entered into allows the parties to remarry Malachi 2:10-16Divorce was not God's original intention Matthew 19:4-8God's displeasure at those of his people who divorced their Jewish wives to marry foreigners, thus breaking faith with their partners and with God See also pp Mk 10:5-9 Genesis 1:27; 2:24The Law of Moses did not command divorce, but regulated an existing practice, particularly to protect the wife. Deuteronomy 24:1Circumstances permitting divorce See also Displeasure Deuteronomy 21:13-14Matthew 19:3 Ezra 10:10-11 See also Returning exiles were required to divorce their foreign wives Ezra 10:2-3Deuteronomy 22:13-19 Circumstances where divorce was not allowed Deuteronomy 22:28-29where a husband makes false accusations about his wife's virginity where the marriage is contracted following the rape of a virgin Deuteronomy 24:3-4Restrictions on remarriage after divorce See also Former partners who marry others Jeremiah 3:1Leviticus 21:7,14 Ezekiel 44:22 Priests could not marry divorcees Jeremiah 3:6-10The divorce between God and Israel See also It was due to Israel's unfaithfulness Isaiah 50:1Jeremiah 31:32 Isaiah 54:4-8 See also God's desire for reconciliation Isaiah 62:4-5Ezekiel 16:60-63 Hosea 2:14-16 See also 5375 law5663 childbirth 5708 marriage 5740 virgin 6243 adultery, spiritual 8248 faithfulness 8839 unfaithfulness |
    |