divorce

In Ghari different words are used for a husband divorcing a wife and a wife divorcing a husband. (Source: David Clark)

In Mairasi the term that is used means “discard.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

See also divorced (woman).

complete verse (Matthew 5:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 5:31:

  • Uma: “‘There was also a word long ago that said: If there is a man who divorces his wife, he must give her a letter of divorce.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘There is also a teaching that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife there shall be a writing which they sign/affix-fingerprint so that it is known that they are divorced.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It was also taught long ago that if there is a man who will divorce his spouse, it is necessary that he give her a notification which is proof of their divorce.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘It was also commanded back-then that if there was a man who divorced his wife, it was necessary that he give her a writing that testified/confirmed that they had separated (i.e., divorced).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There is teaching from the past which says, ‘If a man divorces his wife, he must give her a writing which is a sign that they are now divorced.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You have heart the word taught to the people in past days, that they were told: ‘Whoever wants to throw away (divorce) his wife must make out a paper of divorcement.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quote, see Deuteronomy 24:1.

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Matthew 5:27-32)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 5:27-32:

The Bible says, “Be faithful in marriage.”
But I tell you to rid your mind of those lustful thoughts
       that entice you to become unfaithful.

Poke out your staring eye and chop off your grabby hand —
better this, than for your whole body to burn in hell!

Thinking about divorce, just because it’s legal? Forget it!
Shy away from divorce, except as a last recourse,
       and then only if your spouse has been terribly unfaithful.
When you divorce, you declare your partner an adulterer,
       as well as anyone who marries your ex.

Translation commentary on Matthew 5:31

According to Deuteronomy 24.1, a man may divorce a woman “because he finds something about her that he doesn’t like.” However, in the case of Deuteronomy the man was required to write out divorce papers before sending the woman away from his house. Previous to this time, it was possible for a man to divorce the woman without any action other than the mere statement that he had divorced her. As an attempt to regulate and restrain this tendency, Deuteronomy required a written statement of divorce. However, according to Matthew 19.8 Jesus teaches that even this was an allowance made by Moses because men were not willing to live according to God’s Law.

As we have pointed out, It was also said is a way of introducing a citation from the Scriptures. “God also said in the Scriptures” or “God’s Scriptures also said” are ways to handle this here. Another method may be to say “You were also taught” or “Another thing people taught you.”

Whoever can be “Anyone who,” but in this context it can even be “Any husband who,” since the verse clearly is speaking about divorcing a wife.

For divorces, translators can use the normal way that their language speaks of divorce; perhaps “Whoever returns his wife to her family,” “… sends his wife away,” or “… puts an end to the marriage.”

Let him give her can be “he should give her” or “he must give her.”

The certificate of divorce can be translated “a piece of paper saying he had divorced her,” “a paper stating he had put an end to the marriage,” or “a paper saying that the marriage was over.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 5:31

Section 5:31–32

Jesus taught about divorce

In this section, Jesus continued to explain the difference between the way that Jewish religious leaders interpreted the law of Moses and the correct interpretation of the law. In the law of Moses, divorce was allowed. Many Pharisees allowed divorce for almost any reason. But in this section, Jesus taught that divorce was permitted only if the wife committed sexual sin.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Divorce
-or-
Teaching about divorce

Paragraph 5:31–32

5:31a

It has also been said: The clause It has also been said is a shortened form of 5:21a (“You have heard that it was said to the ancients”) and 5:27a (“You have heard that it was said”). You should translate this clause similarly to the ones in those two verses.

This clause refers to the law that Moses gave to the Israelites. The context implies that the Israelites had heard someone read the laws or explain them.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

It has also been said (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
You have heard that the law of Moses says (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-

⌊They have also said⌋ that ⌊the law of Moses⌋ told/commanded ⌊us⌋

5:31b

Whoever divorces his wife: The word divorces refers to formally and legally ending a marriage. The verse in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 24:1) referred to here speaks particularly about a man divorcing his wife. It is recommended that you keep that meaning here.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Any man who ends the marriage to his wife
-or-
If a man sends his wife back to her family

must give her a certificate of divorce: A certificate is an official paper (document) stating certain facts. So the phrase certificate of divorce refers to a legal document stating that the woman is no longer married to the man. The husband had to write this paper and have witnesses.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a written divorce paper (New Century Version)
-or-
a letter of divorce (New Living Translation (1996))

-or-

a paper to end the marriage

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