1 Corinthians 7:9

1 Corinthians 7:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
• New International Version (NIV)But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:9

7I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that. 8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [that as a practical matter] it is good if they remain [single and entirely devoted to the Lord] as I am. But 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, 11(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.

1 Corinthians 7:9 word by word

εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν· κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν γαμῆσαι ἢ πυροῦσθαι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• theyἐγκρατεύομαιegkrateuomai · to self-controlG1467
• cannotοὐou · noG3756
• let them marryγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• betterκρείσσωνkreisson · greaterG2908
• thanἤē · orG2228
• to burnπυρόωpuroō · to burnG4448

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:9

• 1 Corinthians 7:2But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
• 1 Timothy 5:11But refuse [to enroll the] younger widows, for when they feel their natural desires in disregard of Christ, they wish to marry again,

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9But if they cannot contain - If they find it inconvenient and uncomfortable to continue as widowers and widows, let them remarry. It is better to marry than to burn - Bishop Pearce translates the original thus: For it is better to marry than to be made uneasy. , says he, "signifies primarily to burn; but in a metaphorical sense, to be troubled, vexed, or made uneasy. So in 2 Corinthians 11:29; : Who is offended and I burn not, , and I am not troubled. So…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9But if they cannot contain - If they have not the gift of continence; if they cannot be secure against temptation; if they have not strength of virtue enough to preserve them from the danger of sin, and of bringing reproach and scandal on the church. It is better - It is to be preferred. Than to burn - The passion here referred to is often compared to a fire; see Virgil, Aeneas 4:68. It is better to marry, even with all the inconveniences attending the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9Paul advises that staying unmarried is better because it allows more opportunities to serve Christ without distraction (1 Corinthians 7:32–35). However, even with its distractions, an honorable marriage is much better than living with unsatisfied sexual desire.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. if they cannot contain--that is, "have not continency." burn--with the secret flame of lust, which lays waste the whole inner man. (Compare Augustine [Holy Virginity]). The dew of God's grace is needed to stifle the flame, which otherwise would thrust men at last into hell-fire.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:9

• Celibacy
• Chastity
• Continence
• Marriage
• Stoicism
• Widow

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