The possible divorce (Mt 1:19-1:19)

“Her husband,

Joseph,

Was a righteous man.

He was unwilling

To expose her

To public disgrace.

He planned

To dismiss her

Quietly.”

 

Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι, ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν.

 

Joseph (Ἰωσὴφ), Mary’s husband (ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς), was a righteous man (δίκαιος ὢν). Being a just person was an important theme of the Old Testament, so that it appears quite often in Matthew. Joseph did not want (μὴ θέλων) to expose Mary (αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι) to any public disgrace (δειγματίσαι) because of her pregnancy. Thus, he purposed (ἐβουλήθη) to send her away (ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν), dismiss her, or divorce her quietly (λάθρᾳ). He thought that he was getting damaged goods. However, he wanted to get rid of or divorce Mary quietly without any big to-do.