Matthew 5:31

A writing of divorcement (apostasion), "a divorce certificate" (Moffatt), "a written notice of divorce" (Weymouth). The Greek is an abbreviation of biblion apostasiou ( Matthew 19:7 ; Mark 10:4 ). Vulgate has here libellum repudii. The papyri use suggraph apostasiou in commercial transactions as "a bond of release" (see Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary, etc.) The written notice (biblion) was a protection to the wife against an angry whim of the husband who might send her away with no paper to show for it.