“‘For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,’

says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 2:16

Marriage

Remarriage?

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary

Merriam-Webster online dictionary:

1 a: the action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage

b: separation, severance <divorce of the secular and the spiritual> 2 a: to end marriage with (one’s spouse) by divorce <she divorced her husband>

3 a: to make or keep separate: separate <divorce church from state>

Interesting note: “divorce” comes from latin divortere – to divert, to leave one’s husband

b: to dissolve the marriage contract between <they were divorced last year>

b: to obtain a divorce

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary• Wordnet (Princeton) online dictionary

Wordnet (Princeton) online dictionary: • the legal dissolution of a marriage

• part; cease or break association with

• get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage “the couple divorced after only six months"

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary• Wordnet (Princeton) online dictionary• Wikipedia online encyclopedia

Wikipedia online encyclopedia: • the legal dissolution of a marriage

• a complete or radical severance of closely connected things

• to dissolve the marriage bond between

• to end marriage with (one’s spouse) by way of legal divorce

• to cut off; separate or disunite: “an idea that was completely divorced from reality”

• to obtain a divorce

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary• Wordnet (Princeton) online dictionary• Wikipedia online encyclopedia

Some highlights of the modern view of divorce: A disunion (bond-breaking) of legally-married people Is the breaking of a legal marriage contract Involves formal, legal action Results in permanent separation of legal association

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster, Wordnet, Wikipedia; etc.Specific modern legal definitions: • South Carolina Legislature

South Carolina Legislature Code of Law: TITLE 20. DOMESTIC RELATIONS 

CHAPTER 3. DIVORCE ARTICLE 1. DIVORCES IN THIS STATE

No divorce from the bonds of matrimony shall be granted except uponone or more of the following grounds, to wit:

(1) Adultery;

(2) Desertion for a period of one year;

SECTION 20-3-10. Grounds for divorce. [SC ST SEC 20-3-10]

(3) Physical cruelty;

(4) Habitual drunkenness; provided, that this ground shall be construed to include habitual drunkenness caused by the use of any narcotic drug; or

(5) On the application of either party if and when the husband and wife have lived separate and apart without cohabitation for a period of one year…

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster, Wordnet, Wikipedia; etc.Specific modern legal definitions: [application] • South Carolina Legislature• U.S. constitution does not provide legislation regarding marriage/divorce; a state-level issue

Divorce

Definitions

Remember: Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and legal codesdo not create word definitions; rather, they reflect what is common usage of the day.

Therefore, if we desire to analyze a word in its context, it helps if we understand that word’s origins and meaning at the time it was used.

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster, Wordnet, Wikipedia; etc.Specific modern legal definitions: [application] • South Carolina and other state Legislature

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster, Wordnet, Wikipedia; etc.Specific modern legal definitions: [application] • South Carolina and other state Legislature

• Old Testament [Hebrew]− Strong’s Exhaustive Bible Concordance

› divorce, divorced, “put away” = 4 Hebrew words

Generic Bible definitions:

Strong’s Exhaustive Bible Concordance: “divorce”: (1) - shalach (4x): to send, send away, let go, stretch out; to extend, direct; to let loose; to be sent; to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out; to set free; to shoot forth (of branches); to let down; to shoot; to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, impelled; “…he cannot divorce her…” [Deut 22:19, 29] “former husband who divorced her” [Dt 24:4] “‘For I hate divorce, says the Lord’” [Ml 2:16]

(2) - keriythuwth (4x): (bill of) divorce, dismissal, divorcement; “…a certificate of divorce…” [Deut 24:1, 3] “certificate of your mother’s divorce” [Is 50:1] “…given her a certificate of divorce” [Jer 3:8]

Strong’s Exhaustive Bible Concordance: “divorced”: (3) - garash (5x): to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble, cast up; to thrust out; to be driven away, be tossed; to be thrust out; “woman divorced from her husband” [Lv 21:7] “a widow or a divorced woman” [Lv 21:14] “is a widow or divorced, and has no” [Lv 22:13] “vow of a widow or a divorced” [Nm 30:9] “as wife a widow or a divorced” [Ezek 44:22]“put away”: (4) - yatsa (2x): to go out, come out, exit, go forth; depart; to go forward, proceed to; to come out of; to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out; to deliver; “to put away all these wives” [Ezra 10:3] “they would put away their wives” [Ezra 10:19]

Divorce

Definitions

Generic modern definitions: • Merriam-Webster, Wordnet, Wikipedia; etc.Specific modern legal definitions: [application] • South Carolina and other state LegislatureGeneric Bible definitions: • Old Testament [Hebrew]• New Testament [Greek]

− Vine’s Expository Dict. Of New Testament Words› divorce, divorces, divorced = 3 Greek words