Divorce and Remarriage - What the Bible Really Says

Divorce is a reality of the human condition. Unfortunately much misunderstanding exists about the teachings of the Scriptures on this subject. Many people through the years have suffered reproach, excommunication, and even abuse at the hands of well-meaning clergy, family and friends because they chose to divorce. But is there biblical justification for condemning all divorce?

Some would answer yes. They assert that the Bible teaches the marital bond is not to be broken, literally "until a person's blood hits the ground", under any circumstances. Others, still within the Christian community, take a much more liberal approach. Which viewpoint is right? What parts do tradition and custom play? Let's examine what the Bible actually says, and does not say:

Under certain circumstances, the Mosaic Law allowed divorce.

When the book of Deuteronomy was written (ca. 1400 BC), the people of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land. Moses, the author of Deuteronomy, gave them many detailed instructions for their new life in the land of Palestine. Several of these touch on the question of divorce.

• In Deut. 21:10-14, Moses wrote that a man could divorce a wife who had been taken as the spoils of war, if he chose to do so. The grounds? Only that he no longer "took delight" in her. No specifics are given, and no court is needed to adjudicate.

• If a man falsely slandered his wife with regard to her virginity prior to marriage, he should be fined, and could not divorce her (Deut. 22:13-21). Here the prohibition of divorce becomes a punishment, and presumes that based on other conditions divorce may have been allowed; otherwise there would be no need to prohibit divorce in this unusual case.