Mat 5:31-32 | RWP | e4.org | A writing of divorcement ( αποστασιον ), "a divorce certificate" (Moffatt), "a written notice of divorce" (Weymouth). The Greek is an abbreviation of βιβλιον αποστασιου ( ; ). Vulgate has here libellum repudii . The papyri use συγγραφη αποστασιου in commercial transactions as "a bond of release" (see Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary , etc.) The written notice ( βιβλιον ) was a protection to the wife against an angry whim of the husband who might send her away with no paper to show for it.

‏ Matthew 5:31-32

A writing of divorcement ( αποστασιον ), "a divorce certificate" (Moffatt), "a written notice of divorce" (Weymouth). The Greek is an abbreviation of βιβλιον αποστασιου (Ma 19:7; Mr 10:4). Vulgate has here libellum repudii. The papyri use συγγραφη αποστασιου in commercial transactions as "a bond of release" (see Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary, etc.) The written notice ( βιβλιον ) was a protection to the wife against an angry whim of the husband who might send her away with no paper to show for it.

Saving for the cause of fornication ( παρεκτος λογου πορνειας ). An unusual phrase that perhaps means "except for a matter of unchastity." "Except on the ground of unchastity" (Weymouth), "except unfaithfulness" (Goodspeed), and is equivalent to μη επ πορνεια in Mt 19:9. McNeile denies that Jesus made this exception because Mark and Luke do not give it. He claims that the early Christians made the exception to meet a pressing need, but one fails to see the force of this charge against Matthew's report of the words of Jesus. It looks like criticism to meet modern needs.