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What does the Bible say about remarrying after divorce?

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The Bible teaches that marriage is a lifelong covenant, so divorce and remarriage are never to be treated lightly, yet Scripture recognizes limited circumstances in which divorce may occur. Jesus grounds marriage in God’s joining of husband and wife and warns that divorcing and marrying another ordinarily involves adultery (Matthew 19:6, 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18). He identifies sexual immorality as an exception (Matthew 5:32). Paul also permits a believer to be released when an unbelieving spouse abandons the marriage (1 Corinthians 7:15), while urging separated spouses toward reconciliation where possible (1 Corinthians 7:10-11). Christians should therefore pursue faithfulness, repentance, peace, and wise pastoral counsel.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Matthew 19:9

    I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."

  • Matthew 5:32

    but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:15

    Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.

  • Mark 10:11

    He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

    [10] But to the married I command--not I, but the Lord--that the wife not leave her husband [11] (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

  • Luke 16:18

    Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:39

    A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord.

  • Matthew 5:31-32

    [31] "It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' [32] but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

  • Matthew 19:6

    So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart."

  • Deuteronomy 24:1-4

    [1] When a man takes a wife, and marries her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorce, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. [2] When she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's [wife]. [3] If the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorce, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife; [4] her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Yahweh: and you shall not cause the land to sin, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance.

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