ἀποστάσιον

repudiation, divorce

Definition

The Greek word ἀποστάσιον specifically refers to a formal certificate of divorce, a legal document that officially dissolved a marriage. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively in discussions about divorce law, particularly in debates between Jesus and the Pharisees. In Matthew 5:31 and 19:7, and Mark 10:4, the term appears in the phrase 'bill of divorcement' (βιβλίον ἀποστασίου), referencing the Mosaic provision in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. It signifies not just the act of separation, but the written, legal instrument that made the divorce official and permitted remarriage.

Biblical Usage

This word is used three times in the Synoptic Gospels, always in the context of Jewish legal debate about the permissibility of divorce. In Matthew 5:31, Jesus references the old law to introduce his stricter teaching. In Matthew 19:7 and Mark 10:4, the Pharisees use the term to challenge Jesus, asking why Moses commanded to give a 'bill of divorce.' In every instance, the usage is formulaic and tied directly to the Mosaic legislation, setting the stage for Jesus' authoritative reinterpretation.

Etymology

Derived from the verb ἀφίστημι (aphistēmi, G868), meaning 'to stand away from, depart, or withdraw.' The noun ἀποστάσιον is a neuter form meaning 'a standing away,' which came to denote the formal, legal document of separation in a marital context. It implies a definitive, official act of departure.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it anchors the key New Testament passages on marriage and divorce. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5 and 19 uses the cultural reality of the 'certificate of divorce' to contrast human legalism with God's original design for the permanence of marriage. Understanding this specific term highlights that the debate was about the legality and paperwork of divorce, which Jesus transcends by pointing back to creation's intent. It underscores the tension between concession under the Mosaic law and the restoration of God's ideal in Christ's kingdom.

In first-century Judaism, a 'bill of divorcement' (based on Deut. 24:1) was a written document a husband would give to his wife to legally dissolve their marriage. This was a right generally reserved for men and provided a measure of social and legal protection for the divorced woman, allowing her to remarry without being accused of adultery. The Pharisees' question to Jesus stemmed from an ongoing rabbinic debate about what constituted valid grounds ('some indecency') for issuing such a certificate.

χωρισμός (chōrismos, G673) — a more general term for separation or division, not the specific legal document. μοιχεία (moicheia, G3430) — adultery, the sin that Jesus says results from improper divorce and remarriage.

Word Details

Scripture References