Matthew 19:4
New International Version
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

New Living Translation
“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’”

English Standard Version
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

Berean Standard Bible
Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

Berean Literal Bible
And answering He said, "Have you not read that the One having created from the beginning 'made them male and female,'

King James Bible
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

New King James Version
And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’

New American Standard Bible
And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,

NASB 1995
And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,

NASB 1977
And He answered and said, “Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,

Legacy Standard Bible
And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,

Amplified Bible
He replied, “Have you never read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,

Christian Standard Bible
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that he who created them in the beginning made them male and female,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female,”

American Standard Version
And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

Contemporary English Version
Jesus answered, "Don't you know in the beginning the Creator made a man and a woman?

English Revised Version
And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he which made them from the beginning made them male and female,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus answered, "Haven't you read that the Creator made them male and female in the beginning

Good News Translation
Jesus answered, "Haven't you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female?

International Standard Version
He answered them, "Haven't you read that the one who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female'

Majority Standard Bible
Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

NET Bible
He answered, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female,

New Heart English Bible
He answered, and said, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

Webster's Bible Translation
And he answered and said to them, Have ye not read, that he who made them, at the beginning made them male and female,

Weymouth New Testament
"Have you not read," He replied, "that He who made them 'made them' from the beginning 'male and female,

World English Bible
He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He answering said to them, “Did you not read that He who made [them] from the beginning, made them a male and a female,

Berean Literal Bible
And answering He said, "Have you not read that the One having created from the beginning 'made them male and female,'

Young's Literal Translation
And he answering said to them, 'Did ye not read, that He who made them, from the beginning a male and a female made them,

Smith's Literal Translation
And having answered, he said to them, Have ye not read, that he having made from the beginning, made them male and female,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, Made them male and female? And he said:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to them in response, “Have you not read that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female?” And he said:

New American Bible
He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’

New Revised Standard Version
He answered, “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But he answered and said to them, Have you not read, that he who made from the beginning, made them male and female?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But he answered and said to them, “Have you not read that he who made from the beginning, made them male and female?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
He answered and said to them: Have you not read that the Creator, at the beginning, created them male and female,

Godbey New Testament
And He responding said to them, Have you not read, that the one having made them from the beginning made them male and female?

Haweis New Testament
But he replying, said unto them, Have ye not read, that he who created them from the beginning, created them male and female?

Mace New Testament
and he answered them, have ye not read, that when the creator, at the beginning, made male and female,

Weymouth New Testament
"Have you not read," He replied, "that He who made them 'made them' from the beginning 'male and female,

Worrell New Testament
And He, answering, said, "Did you not read that He Who made them from the beginning made them 'male and female,'

Worsley New Testament
And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He, who made them at first, made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Teachings about Divorce
3Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 4 Jesus answered, Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?…

Cross References
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Mark 10:6-9
However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ / ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, / and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ...

Ephesians 5:31
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

1 Corinthians 6:16
Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”

1 Corinthians 7:2
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

Malachi 2:15
Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

1 Timothy 2:13
For Adam was formed first, and then Eve.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

1 Corinthians 11:8-9
For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. / Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

Genesis 5:2
Male and female He created them, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.


Treasury of Scripture

And he answered and said to them, Have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

Have.

Matthew 12:3
But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

Matthew 21:6,42
And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, …

Matthew 22:31
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

that.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 5:2
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Malachi 2:15
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

Jump to Previous
Beginning Created Creator Female First Male Read Writings
Jump to Next
Beginning Created Creator Female First Male Read Writings
Matthew 19
1. Jesus heals the sick;
3. answers the Pharisees concerning divorce;
10. shows when marriage is necessary;
13. receives the little children;
16. instructs the young man how to attain eternal life;
20. and how to be perfect;
23. tells his disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God;
27. and promises reward to those who forsake all to follow him.














He replied
In this passage, Jesus is responding to a question posed by the Pharisees. The Greek word used here is "ἀποκριθεὶς" (apokritheis), which means to answer or reply. This indicates a direct and authoritative response from Jesus, emphasizing His role as a teacher and interpreter of the law. In the context of the Gospels, Jesus often uses questions as a teaching tool, turning inquiries into opportunities for deeper understanding.

Have you not read
This phrase challenges the Pharisees' understanding of the Scriptures. The Greek word "ἀνέγνωτε" (anegnōte) implies a familiarity with the text, suggesting that the Pharisees, as religious leaders, should already know the answer. Jesus is pointing them back to the authority of Scripture, underscoring the importance of the written Word as the foundation for understanding God's will.

that from the beginning
The phrase "ἀπ' ἀρχῆς" (ap' archēs) refers to the creation narrative in Genesis. It highlights the original intent and design of God for humanity. By invoking "the beginning," Jesus is reminding His audience of the divine order established at creation, which serves as the ultimate standard for human relationships and morality.

the Creator
The Greek term "ὁ Κτίσας" (ho Ktisas) refers to God as the Creator. This emphasizes God's sovereignty and authority over all creation. In the context of this passage, it underscores the divine origin of marriage and the natural order established by God. Recognizing God as Creator is foundational to understanding His purposes and commands.

made them male and female
This phrase, "ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ" (arsen kai thēly), directly references Genesis 1:27. It affirms the binary nature of gender as part of God's original design. In a conservative Christian perspective, this is seen as a clear statement on the nature of humanity and the complementary roles of men and women. It underscores the belief in the intentionality and purposefulness of God's creation, particularly in the context of marriage and family.

(4) Have ye not read . . .?--The answer to the question is found not in the words of a code of laws, but in the original facts of creation. That represented the idea of man and woman as created for a permanent relationship to each other, not as left to unite and separate as appetite or caprice might prompt.

Verse 4. - He answered and said. Our Lord does not directly reply in the negative, but refers to the original institution of marriage. All his auditors agreed in holding the legality of divorce, though they differed in their estimation of the causes that warranted separation. It was quite a new idea to find the propriety of divorce questioned, and to have their captious question met by an appeal to Scripture which they could not gainsay, and an enunciation of a high ideal of matrimony which their glosses and laxity had miserably perverted or obscured. He which made them. Manuscripts vary between ὁ ποιήσας and ὁ κτίσας. The latter is approved by Westcott and Hort. It is best translated, the Creator. The Vulgate gives, qui fecit hominem. At the beginning (ἀπ ἀρχῆς). These words should be joined to the following verb made (ἐποίησεν), and not with the preceding participle, as it is intended to show the primordial design in the creation of man and woman. God made the first members of the human family a male and a female, not a male and females. The lower animals were created separately, male and female; "mankind was created in one person in Adam, and when there was found no help meet for Adam, no companion in body, soul, or spirit, fit for him, then God, instead of creating a wholly new thing, made Eve out of Adam" (Sadler). Two individuals of opposite sexes were thus formed for each other; one was the complement of the other, and the union was perfect and lasted, as long as life. There was in this original institution no room for polygamy, no room for divorce. It was a concrete example of the way in which God unites man and wife.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Jesus] answered,
ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“Have you not read
ἀνέγνωτε (anegnōte)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 314: To read, know again, know certainly, recognize, discern. From ana and ginosko; to know again, i.e. to read.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

from
ἀπ’ (ap’)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

[the] beginning
ἀρχῆς (archēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 746: From archomai; a commencement, or chief.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Creator
κτίσας (ktisas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2936: To create, form, shape, make, always of God. Probably akin to ktaomai; to fabricate, i.e. Found.

‘made
ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

them
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

male
Ἄρσεν (Arsen)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 730: Male. Arsen probably from airo; male.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

female’
θῆλυ (thēly)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2338: Female. From the same as thelazo; female.


Links
Matthew 19:4 NIV
Matthew 19:4 NLT
Matthew 19:4 ESV
Matthew 19:4 NASB
Matthew 19:4 KJV

Matthew 19:4 BibleApps.com
Matthew 19:4 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 19:4 Chinese Bible
Matthew 19:4 French Bible
Matthew 19:4 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Matthew 19:4 He answered Haven't you read that he (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 19:3
Top of Page
Top of Page