The Meaning of Mark 10:11 Explained

Mark 10:11

KJV: And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

YLT: and he saith to them, 'Whoever may put away his wife, and may marry another, doth commit adultery against her;

Darby: And he says to them, Whosoever shall put away his wife and shall marry another, commits adultery against her.

ASV: And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he saith  unto them,  Whosoever  shall put away  his  wife,  and  marry  another,  committeth adultery  against  her. 

What does Mark 10:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 10:1-22 - The Divine Law Of Marriage
God made one man for one woman; therefore divorce is not permissible, unless the one act be committed which severs the nuptial tie. Then only is the bond broken by which husband and wife are one. There should be no compulsory celibacy. Some can live the single life; others cannot. Each must work out his own possibilities, and none may judge another.
It would appear that the fathers brought the little ones. They had a truer perception of the heart of Jesus than the disciples. All through the ages men have supposed that strength, wisdom, and wealth have the greatest attractions for our Lord, whereas it is precisely the reverse. Of such is His Kingdom.
Youth, with all its fervor and impetuosity, is very beautiful to the Lord Jesus. In this case it was combined with station, high standing, and wealth. It is not necessary that all should sell their goods, and give away the proceeds; indeed, it is often harder to retain and administer them rightly for God. But it was necessary for Christ to prove to this young man that he was not living the life of love, as he seemed to suppose. That alone can fulfill the law, and secure the highest and most perfect blessedness of which we are capable. It was a severe but necessary test for this young man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 10

1  Jesus disputes with the Pharisees concerning divorce;
13  blesses the children that are brought unto him;
17  resolves a rich man how he may inherit everlasting life;
23  tells his disciples of the danger of riches;
28  promises rewards to those who forsake all for the gospel;
32  foretells his death and resurrection;
35  bids the two ambitious suitors to think rather of suffering with him;
46  and restores to Bartimaeus his sight

Greek Commentary for Mark 10:11

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Mark does not give the exception stated in Matthew 19:9 “except for fornication” which see for discussion, though the point is really involved in what Mark does record. Mere formal divorce does not annul actual marriage consummated by the physical union. Breaking that bond does annul it. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 10:11

Luke 16:18 Committeth adultery [μοιχευει]
Another repeated saying of Christ (Matthew 5:32; Mark 10:11.; Matthew 19:9.). Adultery remains adultery, divorce or no divorce, remarriage or no marriage. [source]
1 Corinthians 7:11 Or else be reconciled to her husband [η τωι ανδρι καταλλαγητω]
Second aorist (ingressive) passive imperative of καταλλασσω — katallassō old compound verb to exchange coins as of equal value, to reconcile. One of Paul‘s great words for reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Romans 5:10). Διαλλασσω — Diallassō (Matthew 5:24 which see) was more common in the older Greek, but καταλλασσω — katallassō in the later. The difference in idea is very slight, δια — diȧ accents notion of exchange, κατ — kaṫ the perfective idea (complete reconciliation). Dative of personal interest is the case of ανδρι — andri This sentence is a parenthesis between the two infinitives χωριστηναι — chōristhēnai and απιεναι — aphienai (both indirect commands after παραγγελλω — paraggellō). And that the husband leave not his wife (και ανδρα μη απιεναι — kai andra mē aphienai). This is also part of the Lord‘s command (Mark 10:11). Απολυω — Apoluō occurs in Mark of the husband‘s act and απιεναι — aphienai here, both meaning to send away. Bengel actually stresses the difference between χωριστηναι — chōristhēnai of the woman as like separatur in Latin and calls the wife “pars ignobilior” and the husband “nobilior.” I doubt if Paul would stand for that extreme. [source]
1 Corinthians 7:11 And that the husband leave not his wife [και ανδρα μη απιεναι]
This is also part of the Lord‘s command (Mark 10:11). Απολυω — Apoluō occurs in Mark of the husband‘s act and απιεναι — aphienai here, both meaning to send away. Bengel actually stresses the difference between χωριστηναι — chōristhēnai of the woman as like separatur in Latin and calls the wife “pars ignobilior” and the husband “nobilior.” I doubt if Paul would stand for that extreme. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 10:11 mean?

And He says to them Whoever - shall divorce the wife of him shall marry another commits adultery against her
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται ἐπ’ αὐτήν

λέγει  He  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Ὃς  Whoever 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
ἀπολύσῃ  shall  divorce 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπολύω  
Sense: to set free.
γυναῖκα  wife 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: γυνή  
Sense: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
γαμήσῃ  shall  marry 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γαμέω  
Sense: to lead in marriage, take to wife.
ἄλλην  another 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.
μοιχᾶται  commits  adultery 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: μοιχάω  
Sense: to have unlawful intercourse with another’s wife, to commit adultery with.
ἐπ’  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
αὐτήν  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.