Husband is jailed for life. Can the wife marry another man?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Mar 12, 2019
55
12
8
#1
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,837
4,489
113
#2
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
The Bible only gives you 2 options for divorce. Death or adultery.

A marriage covenant involves the man and woman to be within the family that God has designed. A man in prison for life will not hold up his covenant of being a good husband, father, and provider. Does that grant divorce? Idk. Moses allowed divorce due to the stubborn or sinful nature of his people. Jesus reverted back to Genesis as man and woman become one, man shall not separate.

Of course, if she makes a decision out of sin or ignorance only to feel guilty later, God forgives. She should get right with God before stepping into other relationships.
 

SoulWeaver

Senior Member
Oct 25, 2014
4,889
2,534
113
#3
I believe the answer about her remarriage is the same as the one about her husband's remarriage, in case the roles were reversed, and she was imprisoned for life.
 

Moses_Young

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2019
9,938
5,505
113
#4
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
Has she considered helping him get out? Or sharing imprisonment with him?

Unrealistic probably, but I don't think the bible permits imprisonment as a valid kind of punishment.
 

stepbystep

Well-known member
Aug 31, 2020
619
496
63
#5
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
I have to wonder why you came up with this question? I hope it is not personal. I would think the question must include the spiritual status of the woman to be able to answer based on Scripture. A woman not saved would hardly concern herself with what Scriptures say, and rely on what the Law of man says I would think.

If Christian, I would think that numerous facts would come into play. The first being: Why was the husband imprisoned for life? I could see some instances which would justify the wife seeking a divorce, and even getting remarried.

This almost seems like a flytrap question, which is why I say I hope it is not based on personal experience.
 
Aug 16, 2020
540
363
63
29
#6
I used google because you got me curious, and some of the other responses did too.

Here are links talking about marriage surviving a jail sentence:

https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-prison-marriage-2300889

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/divorce-marriage-and-incarceration.html

Here are some Christian viewpoints on this issue:

https://www.prisonfellowship.org/2017/02/maintain-a-marriage-during-prison/#

https://www.dailyrepublic.com/all-d...age-and-the-moral-evil-of-biblical-inerrancy/

I actually learned stuff so thanks for posting this question, I actually sent letters to my cousin while he was in prison, he is currently right now expecting his first child, with his wife after they had been dating for six years. They finally moved in together after getting married, just another sign that God can create miracles, cause my cousin’s life is certainly a miracle.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,353
13,723
113
#7

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,353
13,723
113
#8
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
The Bible does not address this situation directly. The only situations in which it clearly permits divorce and remarriage are adultery, and abandonment by an unbelieving spouse. There are a few other less-clear cases, but imprisonment definitely is not included among them.
 

Skovand

Active member
Aug 17, 2020
359
54
28
Southeastern USA
#9
The Bible directly links 3 causes for divorce and remarriage.

1. The spouse dies.
2. The spouse has sex with another person.
3. The marriage bond is broken because the spouse is a unbeliever and leaves the marriage.

Now when it comes to world adultery, and what breaks a marriage there are many that claim that the Torah lines out even more on the info that was never gone back over in the gospel or epistles.

Ultimately, depending on what country you’re in, any two adults can divorce and remarry. However, if it’s in righteousness is another question.
 

Edgar82

New member
Sep 30, 2020
8
9
3
#10
Mark 10:2-12
Matthew 19:6-7
Romans 7:2-3

This is a tough question. These scriptures are from the New Testament which are against divorce. Jesus himself said that no one can separate what God has joined.
 

Moses_Young

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2019
9,938
5,505
113
#11
Definitely unrealistic. More like "illegal".
Depends on the country and methods used. Apparently it wasn't illegal for Democrat governors to release prisoners due to the covid scheme.

On what basis do you make this statement?
What law in the Old Testament carries the penalty of incarceration? The death penalty is stated, as is death by stoning, even beating and burning, but incarceration is not mentioned as a lawful power of the state, I believe.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,884
5,630
113
#12
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
marriage is something people should look at as a life long commitment made before God. When a person commits to marriage we are doing something that is ordained of God from the beginning before the mosaic law there was the law of marriage .

divorce in Gods eyes it is two becoming one , because two people are making a solemn oath before God almighty . These days the world has lost sight of things so marriage is something we jump into and then a bit later we aren’t happy and we then treat the solemn oath before God as if it’s not important eyes wonder , minds wonder selfishness wins out .

God takes a Marriage oath seriously as to the specific question yes , a believer should remain unmarried. Other than adultery marriage is until the death of the bodies.

it’s not Gods fault we make poor decisions and marry for wrong reasons , as it is with all his word he has spoken truth and given us the option to believe or reject. We should return to taking marriage vows as serious as God does
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,353
13,723
113
#13
Depends on the country and methods used. Apparently it wasn't illegal for Democrat governors to release prisoners due to the covid scheme.
What Democrats do under covid is irrelevant. This thread is about wives and husbands where one is imprisoned for life. I don't know of any country that permits a free citizen to inhabit a prison to be with their spouse; the costs would be enormous. Also, anyone who is trying to get their spouse out of prison is either doing so by legal means (through court proceedings) or illegally.

What law in the Old Testament carries the penalty of incarceration? The death penalty is stated, as is death by stoning, even beating and burning, but incarceration is not mentioned as a lawful power of the state, I believe.
Your earlier statement was, "I don't think the bible permits imprisonment as a valid kind of punishment." John the baptizer was imprisoned. Peter was imprisoned. Paul was imprisoned. Are fines or community service included in "lawful powers of the state" according to Scripture? No, yet modern nations employ those means.

The Bible is not exhaustive. If you think you're going to find everything that is permitted in Scripture, you'll be sorely disappointed. The Bible doesn't permit you to drink coffee or tea, but I suspect you drink one or both. The Bible doesn't permit you to use pianos or guitars in worship, but I suspect your local church does (unless you're Church of Christ). The Bible doesn't need to permit incarceration. That it doesn't is irrelevant to the subject.
 

NOV25

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2019
977
386
63
#14
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
Would need more information to give biblical advice, is this a hypothetical or actual situation?

Bible does allow for divorce and remarriage in certain situations, see Deut. 24:1-4 and 1 Cor. 7
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,543
17,018
113
69
Tennessee
#15
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
I would get a divorce and get on moving forward with my life. Since your husband is in prison for life I would consider him to be legally dead. Biblically, this is a hard question to answer but God understands the human condition quite well.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,543
17,018
113
69
Tennessee
#16
Has she considered helping him get out? Or sharing imprisonment with him?

Unrealistic probably, but I don't think the bible permits imprisonment as a valid kind of punishment.
Helping him get out? Like in a jail break? I don't get that sharing imprisonment with him.
 

Infinite_Ark

Active member
Sep 19, 2020
165
71
28
#17
Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?
Is this question something that falls under the laws God set down? Are Christians still following all of God's laws?
Is the wife responsible for her husband committing a crime that let him to get a life sentence? Should she have one as well? Which I think is the case if she is young and thinks God wouldn't approve her moving on.
Celibate and unmarried for decades. I think that would be a prison for sure.
 
S

Scribe

Guest
#18
If he was in jail for preaching the Gospel then of course not. If he is in jail for murder he must suffer the consequences and part of that is that he would lose his wife. When Jesus said ....

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

The context was answering the question about divorcing for any reason. I don't think anyone needed to say... "What if he cooks small children and eats their livers with fava beans? Can she divorce him then?" They knew Jesus was not meaning that she would have to stay with such a monster as long as he did not commit fornication.

Sometimes people seem to be infected with the leaven of the Pharisees when they think that man was made for the Sabbath rather than the Sabbath for man. Consider what I say and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
 

NOV25

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2019
977
386
63
#19
Matthew 19:7-9
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

The term put away does not mean divorce.
Apoluo: Put away. Used 89 times in the NT, not once as divorce.
Apostasion: Divorce, divorce certificate. Used 3 times in the NT, not once by Jesus.

In ancient times the pharisees would put away their wives for reasons other than fornication, without a divorce certificate. Why would the pharisees do this?
1. The ketubah (sort of like a prenuptial agreement) was only payable to the wife if she had the divorce certificate in hand.
2. Without the divorce certificate the woman wasn't able to remarry so the pharisee could take her back and still be within the Deut. 24 law.

Jesus is telling the pharisees their manipulation of the law, the putting away and marrying another for reasons other than fornication, will be judged as adultery.
 
S

Scribe

Guest
#20
Matthew 19:7-9
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

The term put away does not mean divorce.
Apoluo: Put away. Used 89 times in the NT, not once as divorce.
Apostasion: Divorce, divorce certificate. Used 3 times in the NT, not once by Jesus.

In ancient times the pharisees would put away their wives for reasons other than fornication, without a divorce certificate. Why would the pharisees do this?
1. The ketubah (sort of like a prenuptial agreement) was only payable to the wife if she had the divorce certificate in hand.
2. Without the divorce certificate the woman wasn't able to remarry so the pharisee could take her back and still be within the Deut. 24 law.

Jesus is telling the pharisees their manipulation of the law, the putting away and marrying another for reasons other than fornication, will be judged as adultery.
This interpretation sounds a lot like something that the Pharisees would say to get around the commandment not to divorce except for fornication.

I am curious whether there is any ancient of first century source data to back up the claim that that any Pharisee was justified in the court of the Pharisees by putting away his wife without a writing a divorcement and marrying another.

I think that if you look at context alone you will discover that this interpretation will not work. Context of Deut 21, Mal 2, and Matthew 19. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? It is impossible to make "put her away" mean something other than the writing of divorcement mentioned in that sentence.