Greedy Pharisees deride Jesus after parables of unjust steward. This seems unrelated and more related to a question about Antipas(Herod) and Herodias's marriage.
Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
Luke 16:18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Every one releasing that woman of his and marrying another commits adultery and who having divorced herself from a husband marrying commits adultery.
Understanding this verse requires a bit of Roman and Judaic history. The word translated as "put away/divorce" primarily means "to set free" or "release." Under Judaic law, a husband could release a wife, but under Roman law, a wife could also release a husband. The first clause here describes a man releasing a wife. The words "put away/divorce" and "marry" are both participles, describing a person, not active verbs.
The most complex part of this verse is the second clause where, after the "and" starts with a neuter subject pronoun. It is followed a feminine participle, "divorcing," in the past perfect tense, "having divorced." It is either in the passive, "having been divorced," or middle voice "having divorced herself." This is followed by a phrase "from a husband." The English translations make this passive about a woman who has been divorced. But a woman is not divorced "from a husband" under Judaic law, the man is divorced from the woman, the man leaves the woman.
However, a famous event of the time explains this. Herodias divorced Antipas's brother under Roman law because they life in Rome at the time. She then married Antipas who had divorced his wife. This created a scandalous marriage in Judaic society where Antipas married his brother's wife.
But cleverly, from Jesus's phrasing, using the neuter pronoun and middle/passive voice, we cannot quite say for certain that he is speaking about that marriage though likely everyone would hear it that way.
The mighty think that they can violate the basic laws of humanity and nature.
Whosoever(WW) (MW) putteth9(CW,WF) away his (MW) wife, and marrieth(WF) another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth(WF) her [that is(IP)] put away(CW,WF,WT,WV) from her(IW) husband committeth adultery.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "whoever" should be something more like "all."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "freeing" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "to set free" doesn't precisely mean "put away."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "freeing."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "wife" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "marrying."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "marrying."
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "that is" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "divorce" doesn't precisely mean "put away."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "divorcing."
- WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "put away" is not the present tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "have seen."
- WV --Wrong Voice - The "put away" here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "her" doesn't exist in the source.
Anyone(WW) who(IW) (MW) divorces(WW) his (MW) wife and marries(WF) another woman(IW) commits adultery, and the [man who(IW)] marries(WF) a divorced(CW,WF,WT,WV) woman(IW) (MP) commits adultery.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "anyone" should be something more like "all."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "freeing" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "freeing."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "wife" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "marrying."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "woman" doesn't exist in the source.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "man who" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "marrying."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "divorcing."
- WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "divorced" is not the present tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "have divorced."
- WV --Wrong Voice - The "divorced" here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "woman" doesn't exist in the source.
- MP - Missing Phrase - The phrase "from a husband" exists in the source.
Whosoever - -- (WW) The word "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way," "on every side," and "altogether. This word doesn't mean "whoever."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
putteth away -- (CW, WF) The Greek verb translated as "putteth away" means "to loose from" "to set free," "to release," "to acquit," and "to divorce [a wife]." Its root is the word that means "untie" with the sense of "untie from," so our word "released." This word doesn't precisely mean "put away." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "freeing."
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
wife, -- The word translated as "woman" is the Greek word that means "woman (as opposed to man)," "wife," "spouse," "mortal woman (as opposed to a goddess)," and "female mate (among animals)." It is closer to our "female."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
marrieth - (WF) The word translated as "marrieth" means, for a man, "to take a wife" and for a woman, to "give yourself in marriage." It is not the past tense, but in a tense meaning something happening at some time.
another, -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two," "other," "another," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun.
committeth adultery: - -- The word translated as "commit adultery" means to"corrupt a woman." In the Greek Old Testament, this word was used to refer to being faithless to the Divine. Jesus uses the word translated as "adultery" most often to describe the faithlessness of divorcing a spouse. The broader concept of the time was that "adultery" is anything that is corrupting, as we might say "adulterating." However, the concept is more specific than that. It focuses on activities that violate vows. The central vow in human relationships is the marriage vow. Violating such vows betrays the one to whom the vow is made and corrupts the person breaking it. In Jewish law, unmarried women could not commit adultery. A vow is required. Using this idea, Jesus connects adultery with the destruction of trust, faithlessness, rather than sex. Therefore, the word is also used to refer to idolatry. Idolatry violates a vow to God.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
whosoever -- The word translated as "whoever" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."
marrieth (WF) The word translated as "marrieth" means, for a man, "to take a wife" and for a woman, to "give yourself in marriage." It is not the past tense, but in a tense meaning something happening at some time.
her - This comes from the female form of the following.
that is -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
put away -- (CW, WT, WF, WV) The Greek verb translated as "put away" means "to loose from" "to set free," "to release," "to acquit," and "to divorce [a wife]." Its root is the word that means "untie" with the sense of "untie from," so our word "released." This word doesn't precisely mean "put away." This is not the present but the past perfect tense, "has divorced." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "divorcing." The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
from -- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from." It is not the word form usually translated as "of." Referring to time, it means "from," and "after."
her -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
husband -- "Husband" is a noun that isn't the normal Greek word translated as "man" but a special word that indicates that manliness of "men," both for good and bad. In English, we would say "male." It emphasizes the adult man when compared to a youth or the mortality of a man when compared to the divinity of God. Jesus commonly uses it to mean "husband."
committeth adultery: - -- The word translated as "commit adultery" means to"corrupt a woman." In the Greek Old Testament, this word was used to refer to being faithless to the Divine. Jesus uses the word translated as "adultery" most often to describe the faithlessness of divorcing a spouse. The broader concept of the time was that "adultery" is anything that is corrupting, as we might say "adulterating." However, the concept is more specific than that. It focuses on activities that violate vows. The central vow in human relationships is the marriage vow. Violating such vows betrays the one to whom the vow is made and corrupts the person breaking it. In Jewish law, unmarried women could not commit adultery. A vow is required. Using this idea, Jesus connects adultery with the destruction of trust, faithlessness, rather than sex. Therefore, the word is also used to refer to idolatry. Idolatry violates a vow to God.
Anyone -- (WW) The word "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way," "on every side," and "altogether. This word doesn't mean "anyone."
who -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
divorces -- (WF) The Greek verb translated as "putteth away" means "to loose from" "to set free," "to release," "to acquit," and "to divorce [a wife]." Its root is the word that means "untie" with the sense of "untie from," so our word "released." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "divorcing."
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." - In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
wife, -- The word translated as "woman" is the Greek word that means "woman (as opposed to man)," "wife," "spouse," "mortal woman (as opposed to a goddess)," and "female mate (among animals)." It is closer to our "female."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
marries - (WF) The word translated as "marrieth" means, for a man, "to take a wife" and for a woman, to "give yourself in marriage."
another, -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two," "other," "another," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun.
woman -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
commits adultery: - -- The word translated as "commit adultery" means to"corrupt a woman." In the Greek Old Testament, this word was used to refer to being faithless to the Divine. Jesus uses the word translated as "adultery" most often to describe the faithlessness of divorcing a spouse. The broader concept of the time was that "adultery" is anything that is corrupting, as we might say "adulterating." However, the concept is more specific than that. It focuses on activities that violate vows. The central vow in human relationships is the marriage vow. Violating such vows betrays the one to whom the vow is made and corrupts the person breaking it. In Jewish law, unmarried women could not commit adultery. A vow is required. Using this idea, Jesus connects adultery with the destruction of trust, faithlessness, rather than sex. Therefore, the word is also used to refer to idolatry. Idolatry violates a vow to God.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
the -- The word translated as "whoever" is a demonstrative pronoun or an definite article ("the," "this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun, "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."
man who -- (IP) These words are not in the Greek source.
marries (WF) The word translated as "marries" means, for a man, "to take a wife" and for a woman, to "give yourself in marriage." It is not the past tense, but in a tense meaning something happening at some time.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
divorced --- (WT, WF, WV) The Greek verb translated as "divorced" means "to loose from" "to set free," "to release," "to acquit," and "to divorce [a wife]." Its root is the word that means "untie" with the sense of "untie from," so our word "released." This is not the past but the past perfect tense, "has divorced." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "divorcing." The verb here is translated as active but it is either the passive or middle voice where the subject acts on/by/for themselves.
woman-- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
missing "from a husband" -- -- (MP) The words here aren't translated with their correct meanings and forms.
committs adultery: - -- The word translated as "commit adultery" means to"corrupt a woman." In the Greek Old Testament, this word was used to refer to being faithless to the Divine. Jesus uses the word translated as "adultery" most often to describe the faithlessness of divorcing a spouse. The broader concept of the time was that "adultery" is anything that is corrupting, as we might say "adulterating." However, the concept is more specific than that. It focuses on activities that violate vows. The central vow in human relationships is the marriage vow. Violating such vows betrays the one to whom the vow is made and corrupts the person breaking it. In Jewish law, unmarried women could not commit adultery. A vow is required. Using this idea, Jesus connects adultery with the destruction of trust, faithlessness, rather than sex. Therefore, the word is also used to refer to idolatry. Idolatry violates a vow to God.
πᾶς [212 verses](adj sg masc nom) "All" is pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way," "on every side," "in every way," and "altogether.""
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
ἀπολύων " [13 verses](part sg pres act masc nom) "Putteth away is apolyo. which means "to loose from" "to set free," "to release," "to acquit," "to divorce [a wife]," "to do away with," and "to begin to count." In the passive, it means "to be released," "to be separated [combatants]," "to be brought forth [a child]," and "to be delivered [of a mother]," and "to be undone."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --
γυναῖκα [28 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Wife" means "woman (as opposed to man)," "wife," "spouse," "mortal woman (as opposed to a goddess)," and "female mate (among animals)." -- The word translated as "woman" is the Greek word that means "woman (as opposed to man)," "wife," "spouse," "mortal woman (as opposed to a goddess)," and "female mate (among animals)." It is closer to our "female."
αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adv/adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there." This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him." This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people. The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
γαμῶν [12 verses](part sg pres act masc nom) "Marrieth ") is from gameo, which mean "to marry" and "to take a wife." For a woman, it means "to give yourself in marriage." It can also mean to "take a lover. -
ἑτέραν [21 verses] (adj sg fem acc) "Another" is heteros, which means "one or the other of two," "the second," "the secondary," "the minor," "other things [of like kind]," "another," "different," "other than," "different from," "other than should be," and "in another or a different way." As an adverb, it means "in one or the other way," "differently," "otherwise than should be," "badly," and "wrongly."
μοιχεύει, [10 verses] (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Committeth adultery" is moicheuo, which means "commit adultery with a woman, " "to debauch a woman," and generally, "to commit adultery with anyone." It is a metaphor for "worshiping idolatrously." There are two versions of this Greek verb. This is the more common version used by Luke and the largest number of times by Matthew. John never uses any form of this word. Both versions are common in Greek. The biblical translations conflate them, so I have to check the Greek to see which is used. -
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
ὁ [294 verses](pron sg neut nom) "Whoever" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "it," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "when," " "for which reason," and many similar meanings. In the neuter, plural, its sense is "these things."
ἀπολελυμένην [13 verses](part sg perf mp fem acc) "Her that is put away" is apolyo. which means "to loose from" "to set free," "to release," "to acquit," "to divorce [a wife]," "to do away with," and "to begin to count." In the passive, it means "to be released," "to be separated [combatants]," "to be brought forth [a child]," and "to be delivered [of a mother]," and "to be undone."
ἀπὸ [190 verses](prep) "From" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done. Referring to time, it means "from," and "after." Usually takes the genitive object. As a prefix, means "asunder," "completing," "ceasing," "back again," and "by way of abuse."-
ἀνδρὸς [10 verses] (noun sg masc gen) "Husband" is from aner, which means "a man (as opposed to a god)", "a man (as opposed to a woman)", "a husband", "a man in the prime of life (as opposed to a youth)," and "a man indeed."
γαμῶν [12 verses](part sg pres act masc nom) "Marrieth " is from gameo, which mean "to marry" and "to take a wife." For a woman, it means "to give yourself in marriage." It can also mean to "take a lover. -- The word translated as "I have married" means, for a man, "to take a wife" and for a woman, to "give yourself in marriage." It is not the past tense, but in a tense meaning something happening at some time.
μοιχεύει. [10 verses] (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Committeth adultery" is moicheuo, which means "commit adultery with a woman, " "to debauch a woman," and generally, "to commit adultery with anyone." It is a metaphor for "worshiping idolatrously." There are two versions of this Greek verb. This is the more common version used by Luke and the largest number of times by Matthew. John never uses any form of this word. Both versions are common in Greek. The biblical translations conflate them, so I have to check the Greek to see which is used. -- -- The word translated as "commit adultery" means to"corrupt a woman." In the Greek Old Testament, this word was used to refer to being faithless to the Divine. Jesus uses the word translated as "adultery" most often to describe the faithlessness of divorcing a spouse. The broader concept of the time was that "adultery" is anything that is corrupting, as we might say "adulterating." However, the concept is more specific than that. It focuses on activities that violate vows. The central vow in human relationships is the marriage vow. Violating such vows betrays the one to whom the vow is made and corrupts the person breaking it. In Jewish law, unmarried women could not commit adultery. A vow is required. Using this idea, Jesus connects adultery with the destruction of trust, faithlessness, rather than sex. Therefore, the word is also used to refer to idolatry. Idolatry violates a vow to God.
Different versionv of this verse appear twice in Matthew and twice in Mark. This version is the simplest.