Matthew 19:4

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female,

And {G1161} he answered {G611} and said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Have ye {G314} not {G3756} read {G314}, that {G3754} he which {G3588} made {G4160} them at {G575} the beginning {G746} made {G4160} them {G846} male {G730} and {G2532} female {G2338},

He replied, "Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,

Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

Commentary on Matthew 19:4 (KJV)

In Matthew 19:4, Jesus is responding to a question from the Pharisees about the lawfulness of divorce (Matthew 19:3). Instead of debating the finer points of Mosaic law concerning divorce, Jesus redirects their attention to the very beginning – the creation account – to establish God's original intent for marriage.

Context

This verse is part of a significant discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage. The Pharisees were testing Jesus, likely hoping to entrap him in a controversy between differing rabbinic schools of thought on divorce. Jesus elevates the discussion by appealing to a higher authority: God's foundational act of creation as recorded in the book of Genesis.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority of Scripture: Jesus begins with "Have ye not read," emphasizing the authority of the Old Testament scriptures, specifically Genesis, as the basis for understanding God's will.
  • God's Original Design for Marriage: The core message is that God, the Creator, established the union of male and female as the fundamental building block of human relationships and the institution of marriage from the very beginning.
  • Complementary Nature of Male and Female: By referencing the creation of "male and female," Jesus highlights the intended partnership and distinction between the sexes as part of God's design.
  • Foundation for Marriage: This verse lays the groundwork for Jesus' subsequent teaching on the permanence of the marriage bond (Matthew 19:6).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "he which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female" is a direct reference and quotation from the Genesis account of creation (specifically Genesis 1:27 and implied in Genesis 2:24). Jesus uses the word "made" (Greek: epoiesen), emphasizing God's deliberate act of creation. The structure "male and female" (Greek: arsen kai thelu) is a clear and simple categorization of the two distinct sexes created by God.

Reflection and Application

Jesus' answer in Matthew 19:4 serves as a powerful reminder that to understand God's will for marriage and relationships, we must look back to His original design at creation. This verse underscores the significance God places on the union of one man and one woman as the foundation He established for the family unit. It challenges us to align our understanding of marriage and gender with the pattern set forth by the Creator Himself from "the beginning." It calls believers to uphold and honor this foundational truth in a world that often questions or redefines these concepts.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Genesis 2:23

    And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

  • Genesis 1:27

    So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

  • Genesis 5:2

    Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

  • 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.

  • Luke 10:26

    He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

  • Genesis 2:18

    ¶ And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

  • Matthew 22:31

    But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
← Back