1 Corinthians 7:39

1 Corinthians 7:39 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The 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.
• New International Version (NIV)A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:39

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. 38So, then, he who marries his fiancée does well, but he who does not marry will do better. A 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 7:39 word by word

Γυνὴ δέδεται ἐφ᾽ ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς· ἐὰν δὲ κοιμηθῇ ὁ ἀνήρ ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ᾧ θέλει γαμηθῆναι, μόνον ἐν κυρίῳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• is boundδέωdeō · to bindG1210
• by the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• asἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• longχρόνοςchronos · timeG5550
• asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
• herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• husbandὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• livethζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• be deadκοιμάωkoimaō · to sleepG2837
• she isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• at libertyἐλεύθεροςeleutheros · free/freedomG1658
• to be married toγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• she willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:39

• 1 Corinthians 7:10To the married I give this command — not I, but the Lord — a wife is not to leave her husband.
• Romans 7:2For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband.
• Genesis 6:2the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves.
• Deuteronomy 7:3You must not intermarry with them, and you must not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,
• Malachi 2:11Judah has acted treacherously, and a detestable act has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the Lord’s sanctuary, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.
• 2 Corinthians 6:14Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:39

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39The wife is bound by the law - This seems to be spoken in answer to some other question of the Corinthians to this effect: "May a woman remarry whose husband is dead, or who has abandoned her?" To which he replies, in general, That as long as her husband is living the law binds her to him alone; but, if the husband die, she is free to remarry, but only in the Lord; that is she must not marry a heathen nor an irreligious man; and she should not only marry…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 39The wife is bound … - ; see the notes at Romans 7:2. Only in the Lord - That is, only to one who is a Christian; with a proper sense of her obligations to Christ, and so as to promote his glory. The apostle supposed that could not be done if she were allowed to marry a pagan, or one of a different religion. The same sentiment he advances in 2 Corinthians 6:14, and it was his intention, undoubtedly, to affirm that it was proper for a widow to marry no one…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. 39A widow may marry another man, but only if he loves the Lord. Paul strongly advised Christians not to marry non-believers (see 2 Corinthians 6:14–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3939. bound by the law--The oldest manuscripts omit "by the law." only in the Lord--Let her marry only a Christian (2Co 6:14).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:39

• Celibacy
• Marriage
• Stoicism
• Widow
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• In the Lord
• Abuse
• Attend
• Consent
• Contain
• Distraction
• Loose
• Mercy
• Revelation of Christ
• Snare

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