Matthew 19:5

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

And {G2532} said {G2036}, For this {G5127} cause {G1752} shall a man {G444} leave {G2641} father {G3962} and {G2532} mother {G3384}, and {G2532} shall cleave {G4347} to his {G846} wife {G1135}: and {G2532} they twain {G1417} shall be {G2071}{G1519} one {G3391} flesh {G4561}?

and that he said, `For this reason a man should leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two are to become one flesh'?

and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?

Commentary

Matthew 19:5 (KJV)

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Commentary

This verse is Jesus quoting directly from the book of Genesis (specifically Genesis 2:24) in response to the Pharisees' questions about divorce. By citing this foundational text, Jesus emphasizes the original, God-intended purpose and nature of marriage.

  • Context: Jesus is establishing the divine institution of marriage as a permanent union, contrasting it with the leniency towards divorce permitted under certain interpretations of the Mosaic law at the time. He points back to creation as the standard.
  • Key Themes:
    • Leaving: A man (and implicitly, a woman) is to establish a new, independent household, shifting primary allegiance from parents to spouse. This signifies maturity and the formation of a new family unit.
    • Cleaving: The word translated "cleave" (Greek: proskollaó) means to glue, join fast, or cling to. It signifies a deep, permanent commitment, loyalty, and attachment between husband and wife.
    • One Flesh: This powerful phrase (Greek: mian sarka) describes the profound unity of marriage – physically, emotionally, spiritually, and legally. It speaks of intimacy, inseparability, and the creation of a new identity as a couple. Paul later expounds on this mystery in Ephesians 5:31.
  • Significance: Jesus uses this foundational passage to teach that marriage is not merely a social contract but a sacred bond established by God, intended to be a lifelong union reflecting a deep, unified partnership.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 2:21 (36 votes)

    ¶ And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

  • Genesis 2:24 (36 votes)

    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:4 (13 votes)

    The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2 (12 votes)

    Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

  • Ephesians 5:31 (9 votes)

    For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

  • Mark 10:5 (7 votes)

    And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

  • Mark 10:9 (7 votes)

    What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.