Can A Divorced Person Remarry According To The Bible?

Divorce and re-marrying are often tricky topics. There are intense emotions, Church teaching, and, of course, practical matters to consider. However, as Christians, it is often helpful to turn to scripture when faced with such difficult circumstances. Which is why we're digging into the question: "Can a divorced person remarry according to the Bible?"

Many Christians have been taught that "God hates divorce". And, while it is a sin to get married a second time without an annulment, it isn't sinful to get married again following your annulment decree from the Catholic Church. However, without an annulment, a second marriage would be considered adulterous. 

Can a Divorced Person Remarry According to The Bible?

Can a divorced person remarry according to the Bible? Well, that’s a million-dollar question, huh? Perhaps you’re reading this as a civilly divorced person hoping that future happiness with a yet-unknown special someone would be permissible in the eyes of the Church. Maybe you’ve met someone already and are hoping for a way to get the Church’s blessing on your remarriage, but you’re nervous because you’ve read or heard that the Catholic Church doesn’t “do” divorce and that marriage is forever. Or, you might be reading this for a loved one who is far from the Church right now, and in your heart of hearts you’re hopeful that an affirmative answer to that big question might open your loved one up to getting married in the Church. 

However you arrived here, take a deep breath. The answer to whether a divorced person can remarry according to scripture is…..it depends. 

What Does The Bible Say About Remarriage After Divorce?

The topics of divorce and remarriage in the Bible are pretty cut and dry in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. If you were validly married in the Catholic Church (see ‘Are There Exceptions That Allow Us to Divorce & Remarry in The Bible’ below for an explanation of what it means to be ‘validly married’ in the Catholic Church), the Bible states unequivocally that your marriage is a covenantal relationship and therefore lasts until the death of one of the spouses. However, there are several Bible verses that cover the topics of divorce, remarriage, and separations. 

Matthew 19: 8-9

"He said to them, 'Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.'”

What this tells us about remarrying after a divorce:

Unless your marriage wasn't valid in the eyes of the Church, then remarrying someone is a sin of adultery. This may sound extreme, but the Church is very clear that marriage is a sacrament, something that (when it is in fact valid) should never be broken. 

Malachi 2:14-16

And you say, “Why?”—Because the Lord is witness between you and the wife of your youth with whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion, your covenanted wife. Did he not make them one, with flesh and spirit? And what does the One require? Godly offspring! You should be on guard, then, for your life, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel, And the one who covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. You should be on guard, then, for your life, and you must not break faith.

What this tells us about marriage after a divorce:

We learn in the book of Malachi 2:14-16 that a man who divorces his wife ‘does violence to the one he should protect,’ who is ‘your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant'. We see from these verses that divorce is a direct violation of the marriage covenant. What is a covenant? In a covenant, two parties enter into a permanent, binding legal agreement, calling upon God as their witness that they will remain faithful to the covenant until death. In marriage, the covenant lasts until the death of one of the spouses.

Mark 10:11-12

"'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.'"

What this tells us about remarrying in the Bible:

In these verses, Jesus reiterates the permanence and indissolubility of marriage, and makes clear that remarriage would cause the remarried spouse as well as their new partner to break the 6th Commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery". It reminds us that a validly married person who divorces his or her spouse and remarries commits adultery, which is a mortal sin that severs man’s relationship with God. In order to avoid becoming an adulterer or adulteress, you need to get your first marriage annulled before starting a relationship with someone else.

Psalm 147:3

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

What this tells us about healing after a divorce:

The weight of hopelessness for the future after divorce can certainly feel crushing, especially in the immediate aftermath such as the weeks and months following the formalization of the civil process. Yet we are reminded by Psalm 147 that Jesus Christ can heal us and our wounds, no exceptions.  

1 Corinthians 7:39

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, provided that it be in the Lord.

What this tells us about second marriages:

The Bible is clear that a second marriage is permissible if one spouse from the first marriage dies. Therefore, if you are a widow or widower, then that is a very different situation than a divorce or separation. 

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What this tells us about healing:

Praying with this verse, we invoke the hope, peace, and joy that authentic healing in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, brings about. Even something so devastating as divorce is not beyond God’s power to heal and bring good from. 

When Will God Bless a Second Marriage?

We know from Mark 10:11-12 as well as Matthew 5:22-33, Matthew 19:4-6,9, Luke 16:18, and Romans 7:23 that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery if the first marriage was valid. However, if your marriage to your ex-husband or wife was annulled, then your second marriage is permissible. Obviously, we see from 1 Corinthians 7:39 that a second marriage after your husband or wife has died is acceptable in the eyes of God.

After An Annulment

When you receive your annulment decree from The Catholic Church, it is stating that your original marriage wasn't valid and you are now free to marry. An annulment is a declaration by a Church tribunal (a Catholic church court) that a marriage thought to be valid according to Church law actually fell short of at least one of the essential elements required for a binding union. When this occurs, you are able to enter into new relationships, and a second marriage will be recognized by the Church. 

After Becoming Widowed

If your spouse has passed away, you are also free to marry again in the Catholic Church. This, of course, is a very personal choice. While some people prefer to stay single, others hope for the chance of finding love for the second time. Whatever your choice, if you do find yourself widowed, know that you are open to marry again in the eyes of the Church. 

Are There Exceptions That Allow Us to Divorce & Remarry in The Bible?

While remarrying in the Bible is not explicitly stated, we know through the teaching authority of the Church (see Annulment FAQs at the United States Council of Catholic Bishops’ website) that the only ‘exception’ allowing for divorce and remarriage is a judgment by the Church that a marriage never happened in the first place.

This process is called ‘annulment,’ and, far from being the Catholic version of divorce, an annulment is a decree by a competent Church tribunal that the couple was never married in the first place. In this case, both parties would be free to enter into a marriage with a different person. It is important to note that a certificate of divorce is not the same thing as an annulment. They are two very different things. Whether or not you have a legal divorce, you will still be considered a married woman or man in the eyes of the Church until you receive an annulment. 

A more in-depth exploration of the reasons that a marriage might be judged invalid is here.

What Does The Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage to The Same Person?

Another great verse about remarriage in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 7:10-11. In it, we read the words of the Apostle Paul, “To the married, however, I give this instruction (not I, but the Lord): A wife should not separate from her husband—and if she does separate she must either remain single or become reconciled to her husband—and a husband should not divorce his wife.”

From these verses, we see that God desires the union, or reunion, of spouses if they have been separated. We also see that remaining single is an option, as would be the case if two people entered a valid marriage but afterward one of the spouses became abusive toward the other. For safety, the abused spouse might need to physically separate, perhaps permanently, but the marriage would remain valid. 

Our Conclusion on Divorce and Remarriage in The Bible:

In the Bible, we learn that God forbids divorce and remarriage because marriage is a covenant. Because of the covenantal nature of marriage, we see that a second marriage is possible only if one of the spouses dies. We also learn that some marriages are invalid in the eyes of the Church, in such cases, the spouses would also be free to marry someone else. Unless those grounds are met, a second marriage will be considered sinful in the Catholic faith.

Lastly, if you're looking for some other verses that tackle the topic of remarriage and to see what does the Bible say about dating check out Genesis 2, Ephesians 5, and Deuteronomy 24. 

FAQS About Remarriage in The Bible:

Can a woman divorce her husband if he commits adultery?

If your marriage isn't considered valid and becomes annulled through the Church, then you become free to marry again following the unfaithfulness of your spouse. Every situation and relationship is unique and until you go through the annulment process, you won't know whether or not you are free to marry.

I committed adultery, can I remarry?

Even if you committed the sin of adultery, as long as you have an annulment from the Catholic Church, you will be free to marry again. It is very important that you take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and resolve to avoid sinning again.

What does God say about remarriage, do we know?

We know that Marriage is a Holy Sacrament from God. If your first marriage was annulled, then you will be free to remarry and that second marriage will have all the same graces as any first marriage. As long as your first marriage wasn't valid, God allows you to remarry.