An Exegetical Study of Mark 10:11-12: The Aspect of μοιχαται in Divorce and Remarriage
This exegetical study of Mark 10:11-12 is based on a b-greek discussion from Saturday 14 February 2004. The initial query focused on the interpretation of the present tense of the verb μοιχαω (specifically μοιχαται) in Mark 10:11-12. The contributor questioned whether this present tense indicates an ongoing state of adultery for the duration of a subsequent marriage, or if an aorist tense would be more fitting if the second marriage simply nullified the first. The inquiry sought clarification on the specific type of present tense employed and its most accurate translation.
The main exegetical issue revolves around the precise semantic force of the present indicative verb μοιχαται within the context of a general conditional statement established by ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ… καὶ γαμήσῃ. Scholars must determine if the present tense here functions as a durative present, implying a continuous act of adultery; a gnomic present, stating a timeless truth; or a resultant present, describing the state or consequence that immediately and definitively arises from the preceding actions of divorce and remarriage. This distinction carries significant theological weight regarding the nature of divorce and subsequent marriage in the New Testament and the ethical implications for believers.
Mark 10:11-12 (Nestle 1904)
11 καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς, Ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην, μοιχᾶται ἐπ’ αὐτήν.
12 καὶ ἐὰν αὐτὴ ἀπολύσασα τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς γαμήσῃ ἄλλον, μοιχᾶται.
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- No substantive textual variants affecting the meaning or presence of μοιχαται or its surrounding context are found between Nestle 1904 and SBLGNT 2010 in these verses. The slight orthographical differences between critical editions (e.g., breathing marks, accents) do not constitute key textual divergences for exegetical purposes here.
Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
According to the Novum Testamentum Graece (NA28), there are no significant textual variants for Mark 10:11-12 that would impact the interpretation of the verb μοιχαται. The critical text is stable in this passage.
Lexically, the verb μοιχαω (from which μοιχαται is derived, often considered a variant or synonymous with μοιχεύω) signifies “to commit adultery.” BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, Gingrich, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature) defines μοιχεύω as “to commit adultery with” or “to be guilty of adultery.” The middle/passive form, as seen in μοιχαται, functions deponently here, carrying an active sense of “commits adultery.” The present tense, in BDAG’s analysis, can denote various aspects including customary action, general truth (gnomic), or a state. In this context, it describes the nature or consequence of the act. KITTEL (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vol. IV, pp. 729-735) elaborates on μοιχεύω, emphasizing its deep roots in the Old Testament prohibition against adultery (Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18). Adultery, in biblical thought, is a profound violation of the marriage covenant, a betrayal of trust, and a sin against God. Jesus’ teaching in Mark 10 extends this understanding, categorizing remarriage after divorce (except in specific, debated circumstances not addressed here) as adultery. The present tense thus underscores the ethical and covenantal reality that such a union inherently *is* adultery in the divine economy, not merely a momentary lapse or an act that ceases to be adultery over time.
Translation Variants
The grammatical structure of Mark 10:11-12 is crucial for understanding the nuance of μοιχαται. Both verses begin with a general conditional clause: ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ (Mk 10:11, “whoever divorces”) and ἐὰν αὐτὴ ἀπολύσασα (Mk 10:12, “if she divorces”). The aorist subjunctive after ἂν or ἐὰν indicates a potential or general action, setting up the condition. The subsequent main verb, μοιχαται, is in the present indicative. This is not necessarily a durative present indicating an action that continues without interruption over time, such as “he *continually* commits adultery.” Rather, it functions as a gnomic or resultant present. A gnomic present expresses a general, timeless truth or a categorical statement: the act of divorcing and remarrying *is* adultery. A resultant present describes the immediate and definitive consequence of the preceding actions, where the new marital state itself *constitutes* adultery.
Rhetorically, Jesus’ statements are absolute and declarative. The use of the present tense emphasizes the intrinsic nature of the act. It defines the subsequent marriage as contrary to God’s design for marriage from creation (Mk 10:6-9), thereby rendering it adulterous. The focus is on the *character* of the relationship rather than merely a repeated physical act. The participants in such a union are, by definition, “committing adultery” in the eyes of God because their relationship stands in violation of the original covenant with their first spouse, which Jesus upholds.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The present tense of μοιχαται in Mark 10:11-12 is best understood as a gnomic or definitional present. It emphasizes that the act of divorcing and remarrying another person *is* intrinsically adulterous according to Jesus’ teaching, rather than depicting an ongoing, temporally continuous act of sexual infidelity. The subsequent marriage, by its very nature, stands in opposition to the divine institution of marriage, and thus the state of being in such a union is characterized as adultery. The semantic force highlights the inherent character of the action and the resulting relationship.
Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions capture the nuance:
- “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, *commits adultery* against her.”
(This translation emphasizes the categorical nature of the act as a definitive statement of truth.) - “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, *is committing adultery* against her.”
(This rendering highlights the resultant state, that the new relationship inherently and continuously stands in the condition of adultery, not necessarily that an act of adultery is occurring repeatedly.) - “The one who divorces his wife and marries another *thereby commits adultery* against her.”
(This option underscores the consequential aspect, signifying that the act of remarriage itself is the act of adultery.)