A divorce certificate, as referenced in the Bible, is a formal document that signifies the dissolution of a marriage. This concept is primarily rooted in the Mosaic Law and is addressed in both the Old and New Testaments. The issuance of a divorce certificate was a legal requirement that provided a woman with the freedom to remarry, thereby offering her a measure of protection and social standing in ancient Israelite society.

Old Testament Context

The primary Old Testament reference to a divorce certificate is found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. According to the Berean Standard Bible , the passage states:

"When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her, and sends her out of his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and the second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her, and sends her out of his house, or if he dies, then her first husband who divorced her is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable to the LORD. You must not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance."

This passage outlines the conditions under which a man could issue a divorce certificate and the subsequent restrictions on remarriage. The "indecency" mentioned is a subject of much debate among scholars, but it generally refers to some form of moral or sexual impropriety. The certificate served as a legal document that allowed the woman to remarry, which was crucial in a patriarchal society where women often relied on marriage for economic security.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of divorce and the use of divorce certificates in the context of His teachings on marriage and fidelity. In Matthew 5:31-32 , Jesus states:

"It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

Here, Jesus acknowledges the practice of issuing a divorce certificate but emphasizes the sanctity and permanence of marriage. He restricts the grounds for divorce to cases of sexual immorality, thereby upholding a higher standard for marital commitment than what was commonly practiced under the Mosaic Law.

In Matthew 19:3-9 , the Pharisees question Jesus about the legality of divorce, to which He responds by pointing back to the original intent of marriage as a lifelong union:

"Some Pharisees came to test Him. They asked, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?' Jesus answered, 'Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 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'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.' 'Why then,' they asked, 'did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?' Jesus replied, 'Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning. Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.'"

Jesus' teaching underscores the seriousness of marriage vows and the limited circumstances under which divorce is permissible. His reference to the "hardness of heart" suggests that the provision for divorce in the Mosaic Law was a concession to human weakness rather than an ideal standard.

Cultural and Theological Implications

The concept of a divorce certificate in biblical times reflects the legal and cultural norms of ancient Israel. It provided a necessary legal framework for addressing marital breakdowns while also highlighting the tension between human frailty and divine ideals for marriage. The New Testament teachings of Jesus further elevate the discussion by calling believers to a higher standard of marital fidelity and commitment, emphasizing the sacred nature of the marriage covenant as intended by God from creation.