Matthew 19:5
New International Version
and 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’?

New Living Translation
And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’

English Standard Version
and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

Berean Standard Bible
and 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’?

Berean Literal Bible
and said, 'On account of this a man will leave the father and mother and be joined with his wife, and the two will become into one flesh'?--

King James Bible
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

New King James Version
and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

New American Standard Bible
and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?

NASB 1995
and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH ‘?

NASB 1977
and said, ‘FOR THIS CAUSE A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL CLEAVE TO HIS WIFE; AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?

Legacy Standard Bible
and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?

Amplified Bible
and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED INSEPARABLY TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?

Christian Standard Bible
and he also said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh ’?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and He also said: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?

American Standard Version
and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?

Contemporary English Version
That's why a man leaves his father and mother and gets married. He becomes like one person with his wife.

English Revised Version
and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the twain shall become one flesh?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and that he said, 'That's why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, and the two will be one'?

Good News Translation
And God said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.'

International Standard Version
and said, 'That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?

Majority Standard Bible
and said, ?For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh??

NET Bible
and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?

New Heart English Bible
and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and the two will become one flesh?'

Webster's Bible Translation
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?

Weymouth New Testament
and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one'?

World English Bible
and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and said, For this cause will a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they will be—the two—for one flesh?

Berean Literal Bible
and said, 'On account of this a man will leave the father and mother and be joined with his wife, and the two will become into one flesh'?--

Young's Literal Translation
and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh?

Smith's Literal Translation
And said, For this shall a man leave father and mother, and be joined to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“For this reason, a man shall separate from father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife, and these two shall become one flesh.

New American Bible
and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

New Revised Standard Version
and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said, Because of this, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two of them shall be one flesh.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh?

Godbey New Testament
And He said, On account of this a man shall leave father and mother, and cleave unto his wife; and they two shall be one flesh.

Haweis New Testament
And he said, for this reason shall a man forsake father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Mace New Testament
he said, "for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and be attach'd to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?"

Weymouth New Testament
and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one'?

Worrell New Testament
and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh?"

Worsley New Testament
and be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Teachings about Divorce
4Jesus 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’? 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”…

Cross References
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.

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.”

Mark 10:7-8
‘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.

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 7:10-11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

Malachi 2:14-16
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / 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. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

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

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.

Colossians 3:18-19
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. / Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

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

1 Timothy 5:14
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

Romans 7:2-3
For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

1 Corinthians 11:11-12
In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. / For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

Song of Solomon 6:3
I belong to my beloved and he belongs to me; he pastures his flock among the lilies.

Deuteronomy 24:1-4
If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ...


Treasury of Scripture

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall join to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?

said.

Genesis 2:21-24
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; …

Psalm 45:10
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

Mark 10:5-9
And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept…

cleave.

Genesis 34:3
And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

Deuteronomy 4:4
But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.

Deuteronomy 10:20
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

and they.

1 Corinthians 6:16
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

1 Corinthians 7:2,4
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband…

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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.














and said,
This phrase refers to Jesus quoting Scripture, specifically Genesis 2:24. It highlights the authority of the Old Testament in Jesus' teachings. By using "and said," Jesus affirms the divine inspiration of the Genesis account, emphasizing that these are not merely human words but God's design for marriage.

‘For this reason
This phrase points to the purpose and intent behind the creation of marriage. It suggests a divine rationale, indicating that marriage is not a human invention but a part of God's original plan for humanity. The "reason" refers to the preceding context in Genesis, where God creates woman as a suitable helper for man, establishing the foundation for the marital relationship.

a man will leave his father and mother
This indicates a significant cultural shift from the traditional family structure. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, family ties were strong, and living with extended family was common. The act of leaving one's parents signifies the establishment of a new, primary family unit. It underscores the priority and independence of the marital relationship over the parental one.

and be united to his wife,
The phrase "be united" implies a deep, covenantal bond. The Hebrew word used in Genesis, "dabaq," suggests a strong, enduring attachment. This union is not merely physical but involves emotional and spiritual dimensions. It reflects the covenant relationship God desires with His people, as seen in other biblical covenants.

and the two will become one flesh’?
This phrase describes the profound unity achieved in marriage. It encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual oneness. The concept of "one flesh" is foundational to understanding the biblical view of marriage as a sacred, indivisible union. It also prefigures the unity between Christ and the Church, as elaborated in Ephesians 5:31-32, where Paul uses this imagery to describe the relationship between Christ and believers.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees who questioned Him about the lawfulness of divorce.

2. Pharisees
A religious group in Israel known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses. They approached Jesus to test Him with questions about marriage and divorce.

3. Genesis
The book of the Bible from which Jesus quotes, specifically Genesis 2:24, to emphasize God's original design for marriage.

4. Marriage
The institution being discussed, which Jesus affirms as a divine union between a man and a woman.

5. Disciples
Followers of Jesus who were present during this teaching and later asked Him further questions about marriage.
Teaching Points
The Divine Design of Marriage
Marriage is instituted by God as a sacred covenant between a man and a woman.

The "one flesh" union signifies a deep, spiritual, and physical bond that reflects God's intention for unity and partnership.

Leaving and Cleaving
The call to "leave" one's parents signifies the establishment of a new, primary family unit.

"Cleaving" to one's spouse involves commitment, loyalty, and prioritizing the marital relationship above all others.

The Permanence of Marriage
Jesus' teaching underscores the permanence and indissolubility of marriage, aligning with God's original design.

Divorce is not part of God's ideal plan, and the focus should be on reconciliation and faithfulness.

Reflecting Christ and the Church
Marriage serves as a living illustration of Christ's relationship with the Church, characterized by love, sacrifice, and unity.

Couples are called to model this relationship in their daily lives, serving as a testimony to the world.(5) And said, For this cause.--In Genesis 2:24 the words appear as spoken by Adam; but words so uttered, prompted by the Holy Spirit, and stamped with the divine sanction, might well be looked on as an oracle from God, the expression of a law of His appointment.

Verse 5. - And said. The words that follow are assigned to Adam in Genesis 2:23, 24, but he spake by inspiration of God, as he knew nothing of "father and mother" by personal experience, and therefore they can be rightly attributed to the Creator. It was, in fact, a prophetic utterance of which Adam was the mouthpiece; as St. Augustine says, "Deus utique per hominem dixit quod homo prophetando praedixit." For this cause. Because of this Divine appointment, and especially of the peculiar creation of Eve. She was not formed separately of the dust of the earth, but directly from the substance of Adam; so she was one with her husband, nearer than all other human relations, superior to the tenderest ties of nature and birth. Shall cleave (προσκολληθήσεται, or κολληθήσεται); literally, shall be glued to; adhaerebit. The word expresses the closest possible union, stronger and higher than that towards parents. They twain shall be one flesh; the two shall become one flesh (ἔσονται οἱ δίο εἰς σάρκα μίαν). The Septuagint and Samaritan Pentateuch insert "the two," which is not in the present Hebrew text. Our Lord adopts the addition as conveying the correct sense. In marriage there is a moral and physical union, so that two persons become virtually one being. Originally, man contained woman in himself before she was separated from him; she was a corporeal unity with man; or, as others put it, man, as a race, was created male and female, the latter being implicitly contained in the former; the previous unity is thus asserted. In marriage this unity is acknowledged and continued. St. Paul quotes this text in Ephesians 5:31; and in 1 Corinthians 6:16 uses it as an argument against fornication,

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

‘For this reason
Ἕνεκα (Heneka)
Preposition
Strong's 1752: Or heneken hen'-ek-en or heineken hi'-nek-en; of uncertain affinity; on account of.

a man
ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

will leave
καταλείψει (kataleipsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2641: From kata and leipo; to leave down, i.e. Behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining.

[his]
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative 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.

father
πατέρα (patera)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

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

mother
μητέρα (mētera)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3384: A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'.

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

be united to
κολληθήσεται (kollēthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2853: From kolla; to glue, i.e. to stick.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
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.

wife,
γυναικὶ (gynaiki)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1135: A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.

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

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

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

will become
ἔσονται (esontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

one
μίαν (mian)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

flesh’?
σάρκα (sarka)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4561: Flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 19:5 And said 'For this cause a man (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 19:4
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