1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians · Chapter 7

1 Corinthians 7:39

1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.7For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.26I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.28But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.36But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.37Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.38So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
A wifeΓυνὴGunēG1135H
woman

γυνή (gunē) γυνή, -αικός, ἡ, [in LXX for אִשָּׁה ;] 1. a woman, married or unmarried: Mat.11:11 14:21, al.; ὕπανδρος γ., Rom.7:2; γ. χήρα, Luk.4:26; in vocat., γύναι implies neither reproof nor severity, but is used frequently as a term of respect and endearment, Mat.15:28, Jhn.2:4, 4:21 19:26. 2. a wife: Mat.1:20, 1Co.7:3, 4 al.; γ. ἀπολύειν, Mrk.10:2, al.; γ. ἔχειν Mrk.6:18; γ. λαβεῖν, Mrk.12:19; γ. γαμεῖν, Luk.14:20. 3. a deaconess, 1Ti.3:11 (CGT, in l.). (AS)

has been boundδέδεταιdedetaiG1210
to bind

δέω (deō) δέω (I), [in LXX chiefly for אסר ;] to tie, bind, fasten; (1) with accusative of thing(s), before εἰς δεσμάς, Mat.13:30; of an ass, Mat.21:2, Mrk.11:2, 4 Luk.19:30. (2) with accusative of person(s), of swathing a dead body, ὀθονίοις, Jhn.19:40; δεδομένος τ. πόδας . . . κειρίαις (Bl., §34, 6; Kühner 3, iii, 125), Jhn.11:44; of binding with chains, ἀγγέλους, Rev.9:14; a demoniac, πέδαις κ. ἁλύσεσι, Mrk.5:3, 4; captives, Mat.12:29 14:3 22:13 27:2, Mrk.3:27 6:17 15:1, 7, Jhn.18:12, 24, Act.9:2, 14, 21, 21:11, 13 22:5, 29 24:27, Col.4:3, Rev.20:2; ἁλύσεσι, Act.12:6 21:33. Metaphorical, ὁ λόγος …

to [the] lawνόμῳnomōG3551
law

νόμος (nomos) νόμος, -ου, ὁ (νέμω, to deal out, distribute), [in LXX chiefly for תּוֹרָה, also for חֻקָּה, etc. ;] that which is assigned, hence, usage, custom, then law; in NT (only in Mt, Jo, Ja, and the Lucan and Pauline bks.); 1. of law in general: Rom.3:27 5:13b; pl., of divine laws, Heb.8:10 10:16; ὁ ν. τ. Χριστοῦ, Gal.6:2; (τ.) ἐλευθερίας, Jas.1:25 2:12; βασιλικιός (Hort., in l.; Deiss., LAE, 267:3), Jas.2:8. 2. Of a force or influence impelling to action: Rom.7:21, 23a, 25 8:2. …

forἐφ᾽eph᾽G1909
upon/to/against

ἐπί (epi) ἐπί (before a smooth breathing ἐπ᾽, before a rough breathing ἐφ᾽), prep. with genitive, dative, accusative (accusative most frequently in NT), with primary sense of superposition, on, upon. I. C. genitive, 1. of place, answering the question, where? …

as long asὅσονhosonG3745
just as/how much

ὅσος (hosos) ὅσος, -η, -ον, correlat. of τοσοῦτος, how much, how many, how great, how far, how long, as much as, etc. (= Lat. quantus); (a) of number and quantity: m. pl., Mat.14:36, Mrk.3:10, Rom.2:12, al.; n. pl., Mat.17:12, Mrk.10:21, Luk.11:8, al.; πάτνες (πάντα) ὅ., Mat.13:46, Luk.4:40, al.; before οὗτοι (ταῦτα), Rom.8:14, Php.4:8; with indic., Mrk.6:56, Rev.3:19; with subjc. Mrk.3:28, al.; ὅ. ἄν, Mat.18:18, Jhn.11:22, al.; …

timeχρόνονchrononG5550
time

χρόνος (chronos) χρόνος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for יוֹם, also for עֵת, etc. ;] time (a space of time, whether long or short; cf. Lft., Notes, 70): Mat.2:7, Mrk.9:21, Luk.1:57, Act.3:21 7:17, 23 13:18 17:30 27:9, Heb.11:32, 1Pe.1:17 4:3, Rev.10:6; στιγμὴ χρόνου, Luk.4:5; πλήρωμα τοῦ χ., Gal.4:4; ποιεῖν χ., Act.15:33 18:23; βιῶσαι, 1Pe.4:2; διδόναι, Rev.2:21; pl., χ. καὶ (ἢ) καιροί (Lft., l.with), Act.1:7, 1Th.5:1; ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτου τῶν χ. (χρόνου), 1Pe.1:20, Ju 18; with prep., ἄχρι, Act.3:21; διὰ τὸν χ., Heb.5:12; ἐν χ., Act.1:6, 21; ἐπὶ (πλείονα) χ., Luk.18:4, Act.18:20; ἐφ᾽ ὅσον χ., Rom.7:1, 1Co.7:39, Gal.4:1; κ …

may liveζῇzēaG2198
to live

ζάω (zaō) ζάω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for חיה (most frequently ptcp., ζῶν, inf., ζῆν, for חַי ;] 1. prop., to live, be alive (see Syn., see word βίος; in cl. usually of animal life, but sometimes of plants, as Arist., Eth. N, i, 7, 12): Act.20:12, Rom.7:1-3, 1Co.7:39, Rev.19:20, al.; ἐν αὐτῷ ζῶμεν, Act.17:28; ἐμοὶ τὸ ζῆν Χριστός, Php.1:21; διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν (M, Pr., 215, 249), Heb.2:15; ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, Gal.2:20; ζῇ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός, Gal.2:20; (ὁ) ζῶν, of God (אֵל חַי and cognate phrases, Jos.3:10, Hos.2:1 (1:10), Isa.37:4, al.; see DCG, ii, 39a), Mat.16:16, Jhn.6:57, Rom.9:26, 1Th.1:9, Heb.3:12, Re …

husbandἀνὴρanērG0435H
man

ἀνήρ (anēr) ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for אִישׁ, frequently אֱנוֹשׁ, also אָדָם, etc. ;] a man, Lat. vir. 1. As opposite to a woman, Act.8:12, 1Ti.2:12; as a husband, Mat.1:16, Jhn.4:16, Rom.7:2, Tit.1:6. 2. As opposite to a boy or infant, 1Co.13:11, Eph.4:13, Jas.3:2. 3. In appos. with a noun or adj., as ἀ. ἁμαρτωλός, Luk.5:8; ἀ. προφήτης, 24:19; frequently in terms of address, as ἀ. ἀδελφοί, Act.1:16; and esp. with gentilic names, as ἀ. Ἰουδαῖος, Act.22:3; ἀ. Ἐφέσιοι, 19:35. 4. In general, a man, a male person: = τις, Luk.8:41, Act.6:11. …

of her;αὐτῆς·autēsG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

ifἐὰνeanG1437
if

ἐάν (ean) ἐάν, contr. fr. εἰ ἄν, conditional particle, representing something as "under certain circumstances actual or liable to happen," but not so definitely expected as in the case of εἰ with ind. (Bl., §65, 4; cf. Jhn.13:17, 1Co.7:36), if haply, if; 1. with subjc. (cl.); (a) pres.: Mat.6:22, Luk.10:6, Jhn.7:17, Rom.2:25, 26 al.; { (b) aor. (= Lat. fut. pf.): Mat.4:9 16:26 (cf. ptcp. in Luk.9:25; M, Pr., 230), Mrk.3:24, Luk.14:34, Jhn.5:43, Rom.7:2, al.; = cl. εἰ, with opt., Jhn.9:22 11:57, Act.9:2; as Heb. אִם = ὅταν, Jhn.12:32 14:3, I Jhn.2:28 3:2, Heb.3:7" (LXX) . …

howeverδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

shall have diedκοιμηθῇkoimēthēaG2837
to sleep

κοιμάω (koimaō) κοιμάω, -ῶ [in LXX chiefly for שָׁכַב ;] to lull to sleep, put to sleep. Mid and pass., to fall asleep (M, Pr., 162; M, Th., 1, 4, 13): Mat.28:13, Luk.22:45, Jhn.11:12, Act.12:6. Metaph, of death: Mat.27:52, Jhn.11:11 Act.7:60 13:36, 1Co.7:39 11:30 15:6 15:18 15:20 15:51, 1Th.4:13-15, 2Pe.3:4 (cf. Isa.14:8 43:17, 2Ma.12:45).† SYN.: καθεύδω (AS)

husbandἀνήρanērG0435H
man

ἀνήρ (anēr) ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for אִישׁ, frequently אֱנוֹשׁ, also אָדָם, etc. ;] a man, Lat. vir. 1. As opposite to a woman, Act.8:12, 1Ti.2:12; as a husband, Mat.1:16, Jhn.4:16, Rom.7:2, Tit.1:6. 2. As opposite to a boy or infant, 1Co.13:11, Eph.4:13, Jas.3:2. 3. In appos. with a noun or adj., as ἀ. ἁμαρτωλός, Luk.5:8; ἀ. προφήτης, 24:19; frequently in terms of address, as ἀ. ἀδελφοί, Act.1:16; and esp. with gentilic names, as ἀ. Ἰουδαῖος, Act.22:3; ἀ. Ἐφέσιοι, 19:35. 4. In general, a man, a male person: = τις, Luk.8:41, Act.6:11. …

of herαὐτῆς,autēsG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

freeἐλευθέραeleutheraG1658
free/freedom

ἐλεύθερος (eleutheros) ἐλεύθερος, -α, -ον [in LXX chiefly for חׇפְשִׁי ;] free; (a) in civil sense, not a slave: Jhn.8:33, 1Co.7:21-22 12:13, Gal.3:28, Eph.6:8, Col.3:11, Rev.6:15 13:16 19:18; fem., Gal.4:22-23, 30; (b) as regards restraint and obligation in general: Mat.17:26, 1Co.9:1; before ἐκ, 1Co.9:19; ἀπό, Rom.7:3; with inf., 1Co.7:39; from the law, Gal.4:26, 1Pe.2:16; from sin, Jhn.8:32, 36; τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ, as regards righteousness, Rom.6:20 (Cremer, 249).† (AS)

she isἐστὶνestinG1510
you are

εἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

to whomᾧhōG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

she willsθέλειtheleiG2309
to will/desire

θέλω (thelō) θέλω (the strengthened form ἐθέλω is found in Hom., and is the more frequently in Attic; see Rutherford, NPhr., 415f.), [in LXX for חפץ ,אבה; with neg., מאן pi., etc. ;] to will, be willing, wish, desire (more frequently than βούλομαι, which see, in vernac. and late Gk., also in MGr.; for various views as to its relation to β., see Thayer, 286; but see also BL, §24, see word): absol., Rom.9:16, 1Co.4:19 12:18, Jas.4:15; τ. θεοῦ θέλοντος, Act.18:21; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.20:21, Mrk.14:36, Jhn.15:7, Rom.7:15, 16 1Co.4:21 7:36, Gal.5:17; with inf., Mat.5:40, Mrk.10:43, Jhn.6:21, 67 R …

to be married,γαμηθῆναι,gamēthēnaiG1060
to marry

γαμέω (gameō) γαμέω, -ῶ, [in LXX: Est.10:3, 2Ma.14:25, 4Ma.16:9 * ;] to marry; 1. of the man, to marry, take to wife (ducere): absol., Mat.19:10 22:25, 30 24:38, Mrk.12:25, Luk.17:27, 20:34, 35, 1Co.7:28, 33; with accusative: Mat.5:32 19:9, Mrk.6:17 10:11, Luk.14:20 16:18. 2. Of the woman, (a) mid. (and in late writers, pass.), to give oneself in marriage, marry (nubere): 1Co.7:39; (b) in Hellenistic (M, Pr., 159), act. (as of the man), to marry: absol., 1Co.7:28, 34 1Ti.5:11, 14. with accusative, Mrk.10:12. 3. Of both sexes: absol., 1Ti.4:3, 1Co.7:9, 10 36. † (AS)

onlyμόνονmononG3441
alone

μόνος (monos) μόνος, -η, -ον, [in LXX chiefly for לְבַד ;] 1. adj., alone, solitary, forsaken: with verb., Mat.14:23, Mrk.6:47, Luk.9:36, al.; with pron., Mat.18:15, Mrk.9:2, al.; with subst., Mrk.9:8, Luk.4:8, al.; pleonast., οὐκ . . . εἰ μὴ μ., Mat.12:4, Luk.6:4, al.; attrib., only, (ὁ) μ. θεός, Jhn.5:44 17:3, Rom.16:27, 1Ti.1:17, Ju 25. 2. As adv., …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

[the] Lord.κυρίῳ.kuriōG2962G
lord: God

κύριος (kurios) κύριος, -α, -ον (also -ος, -ον), [in LXX (subst.) chiefly for יהוה, also for בַּעַל ,אָדוֹן, etc. ;] having power (κῦρος) or authority; as subst., ὁ κ., lord, master; 1. in general: with genitive of thing(s), Mat.9:38 20:8, Mrk.12:9 13:35, Luk.19:33; τ. σαββάτου, Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:28, Luk.6:5; with genitive of person(s), δούλου, etc., Mat.10:24, Luk.14:21, Act.16:16, al.; absol, opposite to οἱ δοῦλοι, Eph.6:5, 9 al.; of the Emperor (Deiss., LAE, 161), Act.25:26; θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κ. πολλοί, 1Co.8:5; of a husband, 1Pe.3:6; in voc, as a title of respect to masters, teachers, magistrates, etc., Ma …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.