1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians · Chapter 7

1 Corinthians 7:9

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
9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

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
IfεἰeiG1487G
if

εἰ (ei) εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; …

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.; …

notοὐκoukG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

they have self-control,ἐγκρατεύονται,egkrateuontaiG1467
to self-control

ἐγκρατεύομαι (egkrateuomai) ἐγκρατεύομαι, depon., [in LXX for אפק, Gen.43:31, 1Ki.13:12, Est.5:10 א 3 * ;] to exercise self-control: 1Co.7:9; with accusative, πάντα (see Bl., 91), 1Co.9:25.† (AS)

they should marry;γαμησάτωσαν·gamēsatōsanG1060
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)

betterκρεῖττονkreittonG2908
greater

κρείσσων (kreissōn) κρείσσων (Epic and old Att..) and κρείττων (later Att..), prop. comparat. of κρατύς, strong, but in sense often (as in cl., see LS, see word) as comparat. of ἀγαθός, [in LXX chiefly for טוֹב ;] better; (a) as to ad­vantage or usefulness: 1Co.11:17, Heb.11:40 12:24; πολλῷ μᾶλλον κ., Php.1:23; κρεῖσσον ποιεῖν, 1Co.7:38; ἐστιν, before inf., 1Co.7:9, 2Pe.2:21; (b) as to excellence: Heb.1:4 6:9 7:7, 19 7:22 8:6 9:23 10:34 11:16, 35; κ. ἐστι, before inf., 1Pe.3:17.† (AS)

forγάρgarG1063
for

γάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. …

it isἐστινestinG1510
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 marryγαμῆσαιgamēsaiG1060
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)

thanἢēG2228
or

ἤ (ē) ἤ, disjunctive and comparative particle (Bl., §36, 12; 77, 11); 1. disjunctive, or; (a) between single words: Mat.5:17 Mrk.6:56, Luk.2:24, Jhn.6:19, Rom.1:21, al.; (b) before a sentence expressing a variation, denial or refutation of a previous statement, frequently in interrog. form: Mat.7:4, 9 Mrk.12:14, Luk.13:4, Rom.3:29 6:3 9:21, 1Co.6:9, 16 9:6, 2Co.11:7; ἤ . . . ἤ, either . . . or, Mat.6:24, Luk.16:13, 1Co.14:6; …

to burn with passion.πυροῦσθαι.¶purousthaiG4448
to burn

πυρόω (puroō) πυρόω, -ῶ (πῦρ) [in LXX chiefly for צָרַף ;] to set on fire, burn up. In NT always pass., 1. to be set on fire, to burn: Eph.6:16, 2Pe.3:12; ptcp., glowing, Rev.1:15. Metaphorical, of grief or indignation, 2Co.11:29; of lust, 1Co.7:9. 2. Of metals (cf. Job.22:25, Psa.12:7, Zec.13:9), to be refined or purified by fire: Rev.3:18 (and so in RV, Rev.1:15, but see supr.).† (AS)

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