1,695. Deriving the Laws of Gittin from the Torah

Hilchos Geirushin 1:3

(Continued from halacha 1:2) “And he writes” teaches that a woman can only be divorced through a written document. “For her” teaches us that it must be written for the specific woman. “A bill of divorce” teaches us that it severs the relationship between the couple, leaving him with no authority over her. If their bond is not completely severed, the divorce is ineffective, as will be discussed in chapter 8. “Puts it in her hand” teaches us that the get must be placed in her hand, in that of her agent, or in her domain. These latter two are considered to be like her hand, as we will see in chapter 5. “Sends her” teaches us that the get must indicate that he is sending her away rather than that he is leaving.

Hilchos Geirushin 1:4

Accordingly, if a man writes, “You are sent away,” “You are divorced,” “You are on your own,” “You are permitted to any man,” etc., the divorce is effective. The gist of a get is the idea that the woman is now able to marry any man. Conversely, if a man writes, “I am no longer your husband,” “no longer the one who betroths you,” or “no longer your man,” the divorce is ineffective because “(he) sends her” in Deut. 24:1 requires that he send her away from him, rather than send himself away from her. Similarly, if a man writes, “You are free,” as one does when releasing a servant, divorce is not effected.