¹⁹他 丈夫 约瑟 是个 义人 ，不 愿意 明明的羞辱 他 ，想要 暗暗的 把他 休了 。

¹⁹Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

¹⁹ Verse 19. To make her a public example] παραδειγματισαι, to

expose her to public infamy; from παρα, near, and δεικνυμαι, I

show, or expose; what is oddly, though emphatically, called in

England, showing up-exposing a character to public view. Though

Joseph was a righteous man, δικαιος, and knew that the law

required that such persons as he supposed his wife to be should be

put to death, yet, as righteousness is ever directed by mercy, he

determined to put her away or divorce her privately, i.e. without

assigning any cause, that her life might be saved; and, as the

offence was against himself, he had a right to pass it by if he

chose. Some have supposed that the term δικαιος should be

translated merciful, and it certainly often has this

signification; but here it is not necessary.