If you’re a Christian struggling with the decision to divorce, you may be looking for some Bible verses that support divorce. The Bible is full of verses that talk about divorce in both negative and positive ways.
The main point the Bible makes about marriage is that it is intended to be a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. So, if you are considering divorce for any reason, you should also look at what the Bible says about marriage itself.
What does God say about divorce?
God hates divorce. He said that one of the reasons He allowed for divorce was because man’s heart was hardened and he didn’t have enough compassion for his wife. The Bible says, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it has not been this way.” (Matthew 19:8). We are all sinners and we deserve to be separated from God. But by His grace, we can be restored to Him through Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Bible verses that support divorce
The main point the Bible makes about marriage is that it is intended to be a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. So, if you are considering divorce for any reason, you should also look at what the Bible says about marriage itself.
1 Corinthians 7:14-15
“For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.”
~ 1 Corinthians 7:14-15
Christians who are married to unbelieving spouses should not divorce if the unsaved spouse is willing to continue in the marriage.
Marriage is the most personal of all human partnerships by God’s purpose.
Why would a Christian man or woman believe that God wants them to divorce their spouse?.
The Christians in Corinth were worried that marrying an unbeliever would make them dirty in God’s eyes. In the end, marrying a Christian does not guarantee eternal salvation to a non-Christian.
Matthew 5:31-32
You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.
~Matthew 5:31-32
Divorce was frowned upon in the ancient world.
In practice, a husband can divorce his wife at any time for nearly any cause with a legal technicality to use as an excuse.
Women were often regarded as second-class citizens. Worse, conducting business or owning property was extremely difficult for unmarried women. Divorce meant losing one’s finances and prospects for women in Jesus’ time.
God appears to sanction the practice of divorce for Israel if a man finds something “indecent” about his wife.
Matthew 19:9
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.
~Matthew 19:9
A document of divorce protected a lady with cultural protection. If she could, it provided her legal basis to remarry. It was just assumed that the man had the legal right to remarry.
Israel’s religious leaders likely sanctioned the practice of men issuing divorce decrees to their spouses for no apparent reason.
God’s true intent for marriage and divorce was to relate with humans as his bride. He only permitted divorce in cases of infidelity.
1 Corinthians 7:39
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
~1 Corinthians 7:39
Paul concludes this lengthy section on whether or not unmarried people should marry by addressing another group: widows.
He highlights the importance of staying married to people who are already married.
A wife is obligated to her husband for the rest of his or her life. A Christian marriage should nearly always conclude with death.
If the woman’s spouse dies, however, she is free to marry whoever she wants. “Only in the Lord.” To put it another way, a Christian widow should not marry a non-Christian
1 Corinthians 7:11
But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
~1 Corinthians 7:11
Unmarried Christians, in Paul’s opinion, may serve without the problems that even the best marriages bring. They can remain entirely focused on living for Christ although that is not an order or a decision that is binding on anyone.
Paul also outlines the godly and doctrinal elements that should distinguish a fellowship of believers who are living in spirit and truth.
He recognized that we are all susceptible to sexual temptation and offered sound advice on integrity in the marriage bed and the close attachment that should be reflected in both the external and inner manifestations of a marriage.
Deuteronomy 24:1
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
~Deuteronomy 24:1
Jesus allowed divorce in the time of Moses because of their hard hearts this is because if they hadn’t been free to divorce their wives, they would have ruled them harshly, possibly to their death.
A man could not divorce his wife until he discovered some uncleanness in her. It wasn’t enough to say he didn’t like her or that he preferred someone else; he had to illustrate why he didn’t like her; something that made her unattractive and unpleasant to him, even if it didn’t to someone else.
This uncleanness must be something other than adultery, for she was to die for it; and it must be something other than suspicions.
Isaiah 50:1
Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
~Isaiah 50:1
The Jews were exiled to Babylon for their idolatry, which was a breach of the covenant, and finally for crucifying the Lord of Glory.
Husbands, in their moroseness or lightness of temper, frequently sent bills of divorce to their spouses on minor occasions, as Moses’ rule allowed.
It was common practice for the creditor to take her sons to be bondmen when a widow could not afford to pay her debts.
Jeremiah 3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
~Jeremiah 3:8
King Josiah attempted to reform Judah, but the reformation only affected the exterior forms of religion because people had not changed internally.
Jeremiah describes the people’s ostensible repentance as a ruse from God’s perspective because of her spiritual adultery.
Judah’s sister nation Israel had been divorced from God and thrown into captivity, but Israel’s experience had taught her nothing. She began following in Israel’s footsteps and disregarded God’s warnings.
Jeremiah promises that if they confess their betrayal and repent, they would be forgiven and God will deliver them from captivity and return them to their homeland.
Matthew 19:7
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
~Matthew 19:7
Some Pharisees have asked Jesus a question concerning His opinion on divorce in an attempt to trip Him up and discredit Him. Jesus responded by demonstrating God’s plan for marriage from the beginning, even before sin entered the world.
He explained that the law in those verses portrays a situation in which a man issues a certificate of divorce to his wife after discovering some “indecency” in her, and then throws her out of his home.
The command’s purpose is to prevent a certain guy from remarrying that specific woman if she marries another man first. After an in-between marriage, remarriage is described as an abomination to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:12
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
~1 Corinthians 7:12
Paul is responding to a question from the Corinthians regarding whether Christians should marry or have sexual relations with their partners.
For those who are already married, he has made it obvious that marriage and sex inside marriage are God’s will.
Christians who are married should not divorce one other, especially if they believe that being single is more spiritual or pleasing to God than being married. Paul also says. If a Christian marries an unbelieving woman, he should not divorce her if she agrees to continue married to him.
Romans 7:3
So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
~Romans 7:3
Paul elaborates that a married woman is exempted from the commandment of marriage if her husband dies.
Now he repeats this idea, adding that if a woman lives with another man while she is still married, she will be recognized as an adulteress. However, if her spouse dies, the law no longer holds her responsible because she has the option of marrying another man.
Some Bible verses to avoid divorce
The Bible has many passages that speak to the importance of marriage and the sanctity of a husband and wife’s relationship. However, several Bible verses address divorce and can be used in your argument against divorce.
Here are some examples:
Malachi 2:16
For I hate divorce!” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.
~ Malachi 2:16
God uses the symbolism of a man and wife to describe His love for Israel. Men are required to “cover” their women as protectors and providers.
This is not happening, according to Malachi’s two-part critique in this verse. Men in Israel are marrying heathen women and divorcing their Jewish spouses.
This refers to a man who “hates and divorces,” or it could be referring to God Himself, who “hates and divorces.” In any case, God does not approve of it in any way.
Mark 10:9
What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.
~Mark 10:9
Jesus addresses the Pharisees once more by elucidating God’s position on divorces. The ramifications for relationships and sexuality are enormous.
A husband could leave his wife for the smallest infraction in Jesus’ time.
People have perverted God’s definition of marriage, according to Jesus, which is that one man and one woman become united by a commitment established before God.
If a man can’t manage that same kind of commitment Jesus advises he shouldn’t marry.
1 Corinthians 7:10
But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband
~1 Corinthians 7:10
A married couple shall not divorce for any reason other than what Christ permits.
Dissolution was fairly common at the period, among both Jews and Gentiles, on very flimsy grounds.
Marriage is a Divine institution, and it is a lifelong commitment made by God. We are obligated, to the extent that it is within us, to live in peace with all men.
The Almighty has called us to harmony in every situation and relationship, and it should be done to encourage harmony as far as honesty and purity would allow.
Bible verses God hates divorce
1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach
~1 Timothy 3:2
Malachi 2:15
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
~Malachi 2:15
Exodus 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
~Exodus 20:14
where does the Bible support divorce
Divorce for abandonment was permitted by the Apostle Paul 1 Corinthians 7:14-15
Because the unbelieving husband has been sanctified via his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but they are holy as it is. However, if the unbeliever departs, so be it. In such circumstances, the brother or sister is not bound; God has asked us to live in peace.
~1 Corinthians 7:14-15
For neglect/abuse, Moses’ Law mandated divorce. Exodus 21:10
If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
~Exodus 21:10
According to this scripture, the Law of Moses required divorce if any of the three marriage vows were broken: food, clothes, and “marital rights,” which can be interpreted as love, as we saw in the New Testament verses previously.
But if he marries another woman, he must not deprive [the first wife] of food, clothing, or marital privileges. And if he fails to perform these three things for her, she will be forced to leave without compensation.
Divorce for infidelity was permitted by Jesus. Matthew 19:9
And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.
~Matthew 19:9
