“Who gives this woman?”

I frequently note just how far the “traditions of men” — particularly when it comes to Caesar’s 501c(3) State-created ‘church’ — has departed from what is actually Written, just as our Savior so frequently illustrated by His teachings as well as His actions.  But every now and again, a tradition comes to mind which actually (well, at least before it became “PC”) has a basis in Scripture.

When it comes to marriage, and ‘divorce’ (as opposed to mere ‘putting away’, or shalach, in the original Hebrew) there is more than enough tradition and false teaching in the ‘Church’ to completely muddy the waters, and perhaps even illustrate why Paul condemned the doctrine of “forbidding to marry” in I Timothy 4:1-3.  A careful reading of what the Word actually says (and in this, as in everything else, Yahushua was UTTERLY consistent with Himself!) will clear up the confusion, however.  And at least one remnant of tradition actually helps that understanding.

Do you remember the phrase which is often traditionally used in marriage ceremonies, just before the time when a father walks his daughter down the aisle and to the groom at the altar?

“Who gives this woman to be wed?”

This tradition is one of those with a truly Biblical history; it traces directly to Numbers 30 (a favorite chapter of mine ) and the explicit authority of a man over the vows of his wives and daughters. Since a man may void, or annul, the vows of his daughter while she is under his authority, it makes sense that that transfer of such authority would be explicitly observed.

This tradition shows that a father is giving his God-given authority over his daughter to her new husband.

Now I ask the question:

What is a certificate of divorce, as outlined by YHVH in Deuteronomy 24:1 and 3 as an explicit part of the proper and complete process for lawfully sending a wife out of his house?

Is it not yet another explicit transfer of authority? A woman who has been lawfully and completely “put away” is now responsible for HER OWN vows, and has no husband in headship over her. With such a certificate, as a believer, she is eligible for remarriage; without it, she is not – and is guilty of adultery for joining with any other man while her husband yet lives.*

Likewise, if that husband puts her away unlawfully, then HE, as her covering, is guilty of adultery for what he has done to her (as Matthew 5:32, properly translated, makes clear).

“Who gives this woman to be wed?”

If she was ever married, her certificate of divorce is lawful proof that her former husband does!

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*  Note one other important thing, as both Numbers 30:15, Matthew 5:32, and many others make clear.  If a husband puts away his wife treacherously, then HE bears her guilt.  He “causes her” to commit adultery!