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

36If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels he should marry — he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. 37But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancée, will do well. So, then, he who marries his fiancée does well, but he who does not marry will do better. 39A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants — only in the Lord. 40But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Soὥστεhōste · soG5620
• thenκαίkai · andG2532
• heὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that givethἐκγαμίζωekgamizō · to marryG1547
• doethποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• wellκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
• butδέde · thenG1161
• notμήmē · notG3361
• betterκρείσσωνkreisson · greaterG2908

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:38

• 1 Corinthians 7:28However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
• 1 Corinthians 7:2But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband.
• Hebrews 13:4Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
• 1 Corinthians 7:1Now in response to the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

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