1 Corinthians 7:11

1 Corinthians 7:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
• New International Version (NIV)But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
• English Standard Version (ESV)(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:11

9But if they do not have [sufficient] self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10But to the married [believers] I give instructions—not I, but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband, (but even if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not leave his wife. 12To the rest I declare—I, not the Lord [since Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any [believing] brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ], and she consents to live with him, he must not leave her. 13And if any [believing] woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not leave him.

1 Corinthians 7:11 word by word

ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω· καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• she departχωρίζωchōrizō · to separate/leaveG5563
• let her remainμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• unmarriedἄγαμοςagamos · unmarriedG22
• orἤē · orG2228
• be reconciledκαταλλάσσωkatallassō · to reconcileG2644
• toὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• toἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• notμήmē · notG3361
• put awayἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: leaveG863
• wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:11

• Judges 19:2But his concubine was unfaithful to him, and left him and went to her father’s house in Bethlehem of Judah, and stayed there for a period of four months.
• Jeremiah 3:1That is to say, “If a man divorces his wife And she goes [away] from him And becomes another man’s [wife], Will he return to her again? [Of course not!] Will not that land [where such a thing happened] be completely desecrated? But you [rebelled against Me and you] are a prostitute with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me.” says the Lord.
• Deuteronomy 22:19and they shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give it to the father of the young woman, because he publicly defamed a virgin of Israel. And she shall remain his wife; he is not allowed to divorce her as long as he lives.
• Isaiah 50:1The Lord declares this; “Where is the certificate of divorce By which I have sent your mother away, [O Israel]? Or to which one of My creditors did I sell you [as slaves]? In fact, You were sold for your wickedness [your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing], And for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
• Mark 10:2Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him [intending to trick Him into saying something wrong], and asked Him, “Is it lawful [according to Scripture] for a man to divorce his wife and send her away?”

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11But, and if she depart - He puts the case as probable, because it was frequent, but lays it under restrictions. Let her remain unmarried - She departs at her own peril; but she must not marry another: she must either continue unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife - Divorces cannot be allowed but in the case of fornication: an act of this kind dissolves the marriage vow; but nothing else can. It is a fact…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11But and if she depart - If she have withdrawn by a rash and foolish act; if she has attempted to dissolve the marriage vow, she is to remain unmarried, or be reconciled. She is not at liberty to marry another. This may refer, I suppose, to instances where wives, ignorant of the rule of Christ, and supposing that they had a right to separate themselves from their husbands, had rashly left them, and had supposed that the marriage contract was dissolved…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-16Verses 10-16 Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Ro 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though unbelievers. It should be the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-11Paul advises Christian couples considering divorce. not I, but the Lord: This does not mean Paul's other instructions (see 1 Corinthians 7:12, 25, 40) have less authority. It means this advice is based on known teachings of Jesus (see Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11–12; Luke 16:18). But if she does: Paul recognizes that some couples struggle to live together, but even then, they must honor their marriage vows and remain faithful to their spouse alone (see…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. But and if she depart--or "be separated." If the sin of separation has been committed, that of a new marriage is not to be added (Mt 5:32). be reconciled--by appeasing her husband's displeasure, and recovering his good will. let not ... husband put away ... wife--In Mt 5:32 the only exception allowed is, "saving for the cause of fornication."Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:11

• Divorce
• Marriage
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• Abuse
• Attend
• Consent
• Contain
• Distraction
• Loose
• Mercy
• Revelation of Christ
• Snare
• Sorrow

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings