Mark 10:12

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 10:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.
Mark 10:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if a woman shall put away her husband, etc..] Not that there was the same law, or the same sufferance by the law of Moses, for a woman to put away her husband, as for the husband to put away the wife; nor was it practised among the Jews, unless it came to be in use about this time, in their declining state, having taken it from the Gentiles; of whom they say f188, that “they divorce one another: says R. Jochanan, wtrgm wta, “his wife divorces him”, and gives him the dowry.” ç ç So Salome, the sister of Herod the Great, sent a bill of divorce to her husband Costobarus; and in this she was followed by Herodias, the daughter of Aristobulus, as Josephus f189 relates; and which his own wife…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See this question about divorce explained in the notes at Matthew 19:1-12. Mark 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband - It would seem, from this, that a woman, among the Jews, had the power of separating herself from her husband, yet this right is not given her by the law of Moses. There is not, however, any positive evidence that females often claimed or exercised this right. Cases had occurred, indeed, in which it had been done. The wife of Herod had rejected her former husband and married Herod. And though instances of this kind “might” have been attempted to be defended by the example of Pagans, yet our Saviour was desirous of showing them that it did not free them from the…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification