10:9
Therefore: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore indicates that 10:9 is the conclusion of what Jesus said in 10:6–8. Another way to translate this is “So.”
what God has joined together: The phrase what God has joined together refers to the married man and woman. In some languages it may be natural to translate it as:
the people whom God has joined together
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as joined together is literally “yoked together.” It means “joined as a pair.” The verb could be used of two oxen working together to pull a plow. It is also used of a man and woman who are joined as marriage partners. It implies that they are united with common goals.
Here is another way to translate this:
God has united them
let man not separate: The phrase let man not separate is an indirect command. Jesus was saying that no one should separate a husband and wife and end their marriage.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
man must not separate (New English Bible)
-or-
human beings must not divide (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
must not be split/broken by anyone
man: The word man refers in general to any person, including the married man or woman. This is not the same Greek word for “man” as the word in 10:2b. It contrasts with “God” in the previous phrase.
separate: The word separate refers to divorce.
General Comment on 10:9
In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of the clauses in this verse. For example:
Therefore, no one should separate what God has joined together.
-or-
And no one should separate a couple that God has joined together. (Contemporary English Version)
Paragraph 10:10–12
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