1 Corinthians 7:38

1 Corinthians 7:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
• New International Version (NIV)So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:38

36However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married. 37But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well. So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better. 39A 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. 40In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7:38 word by word

ὥστε καὶ ὁ γαμίζων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον καλῶς ποιεῖ, καὶ ὁ μὴ γαμίζων κρεῖσσον ποιήσει.¶Read the interlinear

• So thenὥστεhōste · soG5620
• So thenκαίkai · andG2532
• he whoὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·γαμίσκω, γαμίζωgamiskō · to give in marriageG1061
• ·ἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• virginπαρθένοςparthenos · virginG3933
• doesποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• wellκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
• does notμήmē · notG3361
• even betterκρείσσωνkreisson · greaterG2908

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:38

• 1 Corinthians 7:28But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
• 1 Corinthians 7:2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
• Hebrews 13:4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
• 1 Corinthians 7:1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:38

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38Doeth well - Does right; violates no law in it, and is not to be blamed for it. Doeth better - Does that which is on the whole to be preferred, if it can be done. He more certainly, in the present circumstances, consults her happiness by withholding her from the marriage connection than he could by allowing her to enter it.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-40Verses 36-40 The apostle is thought to give advice here about the disposal of children in marriage. In this view, the general meaning is plain. Children should seek and follow the directions of their parents as to marriage. And parents should consult their children's wishes; and not reckon they have power to do with them, and dictate just as they please, without reason. The whole is closed with advice to widows. Second marriages are not unlawful, so that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 36-38Paul suggests choosing a celibate life over marriage. However, he permits marriage if sexual desires become too tempting. Those who can control their desires well should consider celibacy.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. her--The oldest manuscripts have "his own virgin daughter." but--The oldest manuscripts have "and."Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:38

• Celibacy
• Continence
• 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