Deuteronomy 24:4 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 24:4

Deuteronomy 24:4. Her former husband may not take her again This is the punishment of his levity and injustice in putting her away without sufficient cause, which, by this offer, he now acknowledgeth. Defiled Not absolutely, as if her second marriage were a sin, but with respect to her first husband, to whom she is as a defiled or unclean woman; that is, forbidden; for things forbidden are accounted and called unclean, (Judges 13:7,) because they may no more be touched or used than an... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 24:1-22

Protection for the disadvantaged (24:1-25:4)Various laws guaranteed protection for defenceless people who might otherwise be exploited. A woman who had been divorced was free from interference by her previous husband. He had to respect the decency of marriage, and had no right to send her away then take her back as he pleased (24:1-4; cf. Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:3-9). A newly married man could not be forced into the army till at least one year after marriage (5; cf. 20:7). A poor person who... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Deuteronomy 24:4

may not take her again. Compare Jeremiah 3:1 .Isaiah 50:1 . sin. See App-44 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Deuteronomy 24:4

Ver. 4. Her former husband—may not take her again— To restrain them from the abuse of this permission, the law provides, that the husband, who had once put away his wife, should, upon her being married to another, be for ever incapable of having her again. The law considered her as defiled; i.e. unclean, as to her first husband, by having been the wife of a second, and so forbidden to that first. See Acts 10:14-15. This intimates, that if she had not been married to another, but kept herself... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 24:1-5

Marital duties and rights 24:1-5A discussion of divorce and remarriage fits into this context because both practices involve respect for the rights of others. The first of the two situations Moses dealt with in this section concerns a married, divorced, and remarried woman (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)."In modern society, marriage and divorce are not only regulated by law, but are invalid unless conducted or decreed by accredited officials in accredited places (churches and register offices, or... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 24:1-22

Laws regarding Divorce, Pledges, Man-stealing, Leprosy, Justice, and Gleaning1-4. The Law of Divorce. The right of the husband to divorce his wife is here acknowledged but is guarded against abuse. There must be some good reason for the separation; it must be done in a legal and formal manner: and it is final. If the. woman is divorced a second time, or becomes a widow after remarriage, she is not free to marry her first husband.1. Some uncleanness] RV ’some unseemly thing.’ The Heb. is... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Deuteronomy 24:1-4

XXIV.Deuteronomy 24:1-4. DIVORCE.Some uncleanness.—Evidently mere caprice and dislike are not intended here. There must be some real ground of complaint. (See Margin.)Let him write her a bill of divorcement.—“Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives,” is the Divine comment upon this. It is a distinct concession to the weakness of Israel—not the ideal standard of the Law, but the highest which it was found practicable to enforce. (See Matthew 19:2 seq.)... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 24:1-22

LAWS OF KINDNESSWITH the commands we now have to consider, we leave altogether the region of strict law, and enter entirely upon that of aspiration and of feeling. Kindness, by its very nature, eludes the rude compulsion of law, properly so called. It ceases to be kindness when it loses spontaneity and freedom. Precept, therefore, not law, is the utmost that any lawgiver can give in respect to it; and this is precisely what we have in Deuteronomy, so far as it endeavors to incite men to... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Deuteronomy 24:1-22

20. Concerning Divorce and Laws of Mercy CHAPTER 24 1. Concerning divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-5 ) 2. Concerning pledge and slavery (Deuteronomy 24:6-7 ) 3. Concerning leprosy (Deuteronomy 24:8-9 ) 4. Concerning the oppression of the poor (Deuteronomy 24:10-15 ) 5. Concerning injustice (Deuteronomy 24:16-18 ) 6. The stranger, the fatherless and the widow remembered (Deuteronomy 24:19-22 ) Matthew 19:1-9 must be studied with the words of Moses on divorce. The Pharisees asked the Lord... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Deuteronomy 24:4

24:4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is {b} defiled; for that [is] abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance.(b) Seeing that by divorcing her he judged her to be unclean and defiled. read more