Matthew 5:31 kjv — It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

King James Version

"It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:"

— Matthew 5:31, King James Version

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

Matthew 5:31 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

Matthew 5 — Context

28

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

31

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

33

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

34

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

Matthew 5:31 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 5:31 say?
Matthew 5:31 in the King James Version reads: “It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:”
Where is Matthew 5:31 in the Bible?
Matthew 5:31 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 31.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 5:31.
What translation should I read Matthew 5:31 in?
Matthew 5:31 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 5:31?
Matthew 5:31 reads (KJV): “It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2