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What the Bible says
What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?
The Bible treats marriage as a sacred, lifelong covenant and grieves over divorce, yet it also meets the divorced and broken with real grace, not condemnation.
Jesus taught that God's design was for marriage to last, and that divorce was permitted because of the hardness of human hearts, not because God delights in it. Scripture calls us to fight for reconciliation and faithfulness.
At the same time, the Bible never treats a divorced person as beyond God's love. God is near to the brokenhearted, and His mercy is new every morning. Whatever your story, you are welcome to come to Him as you are.
Key Bible verses
“For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Malachi 2:16 · King James Version (public domain)
“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Matthew 19:6 · King James Version (public domain)
“He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”
Matthew 19:8 · King James Version (public domain)
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3 · King James Version (public domain)
How this points to Jesus
Jesus does not stand over the divorced with a stone in His hand; He kneels beside the hurting and offers living water. He came for the broken, the failed, and the ashamed. No marriage, and no ending of one, places a person outside the reach of His grace.