Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5650 Human relationships  »  5662 certificate of divorce

A certificate of divorce was required under Mosaic law

Mark 10:4 pp Matthew 19:7 The certificate provided a divorced wife with some legal protection and permitted her to remarry. See also Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Hosea 2:2 These words may have been adapted from a divorce bill; Matthew 5:31

God gave his unfaithful people a certificate of divorce

Jeremiah 3:8 See also Isaiah 50:1 Unlike Israel, Judah had been given no certificate of divorce. The exile is thus portrayed as only a temporary separation.

See also

5675  divorce
5711  marriage, restrictions
5744  wife
6242  adultery