1 Corinthians 7:32

1 Corinthians 7:32 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
• New International Version (NIV)I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:32

30People who are sad should live as if they were not sad. People who are happy should live as if they had nothing to laugh about. People who buy things should live as if those things do not belong to them. 31If you enjoy the things of this world, do not live as if those things are important. This world, as it is now, will soon finish. I do not want you to worry about troubles. A man who has not married wants to serve the Lord. He wants to live in a way that makes the Lord happy. 33But a man who has married thinks a lot about this world's things. He wants to live in a way that makes his wife happy. 34As a result, he thinks in two opposite ways. It is the same for a woman who has no husband, or a young girl who has not married. She wants to serve the Lord very well. She wants to be completely pure, both in her body and in her spirit. But a woman who has a husband has to think about this world's things. She wants to live in a way that makes her husband happy.

1 Corinthians 7:32 word by word

θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους εἶναι. ὁ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου, πῶς ἀρέσῃ τῷ κυρίῳ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• I would haveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• youσύsu · youG4771
• without carefulnessἀμέριμνοςamerimnos · untroubledG275
• Heὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• unmarriedἄγαμοςagamos · unmarriedG22
• careth forμεριμνάωmerimnaō · to worryG3309
• that belong to the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• he may pleaseἀρέσκωareskō · to pleaseG700

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:32

• Psalms 55:22Take your problems to the Lord. He will take care of you. He will never let his own people fall.
• Matthew 6:25So I tell you this. You should not worry about how to stay alive. Do not worry about the food and drink that you need. Do not worry about the clothes that you need to wear. Your life is more important than the food that you eat. Your body is more important than your clothes.
• Matthew 13:22Some seeds fell among thorn bushes. This is like people who hear the message from God. But they have many troubles in their minds. They want to get more money and more things. They think that this will make them happy. So they do not let God's message change them. They are like plants that do not grow well and make new seeds.
• Philippians 4:6Do not worry about anything. Instead, pray to God about everything. Ask him to help you with the things that you need. And thank him for his help.
• 1 Timothy 5:5Some widows are really alone and they have nobody to take care of them. A widow like that trusts God that he will help her. As a result, she prays a lot, at night and during the day, and she asks God to help her.
• 1 Corinthians 7:34As a result, he thinks in two opposite ways. It is the same for a woman who has no husband, or a young girl who has not married. She wants to serve the Lord very well. She wants to be completely pure, both in her body and in her spirit. But a woman who has a husband has to think about this world's things. She wants to live in a way that makes her husband happy.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32Without carefulness - Though all these things will shortly come to pass, yet do not be anxious about them. Every occurrence is under the direction and management of God. The wrath of man shall praise him, and the remainder of it he shall restrain, and none can harm you if ye be followers of that which is good. We should all take the advice of the poet: - "With patient mind thy course of duty run; God nothing does, nor suffers to be done, But thou wouldst…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 32But I would have you - I would advise you to such a course of life as should leave you without carefulness My advice is regulated by that wish, and that wish guides me in giving it. Without carefulness - ( ̓́ amerimnous). Without anxiety, solicitude, care; without such a necessary attention to the things of this life as to take off your thoughts and affections from heavenly objects; see the notes on Matthew 6:25-31. careth for the things that belong to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 Considering the distress of those times, the unmarried state was best. Notwithstanding, the apostle does not condemn marriage. How opposite are those to the apostle Paul who forbid many to marry, and entangle them with vows to remain single, whether they ought to do so or not! He exhorts all Christians to holy indifference toward the world. As to relations; they must not set their hearts on the comforts of the state. As to afflictions; they…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-35Paul provides three reasons why it is often better for single people to stay unmarried. First, single people face fewer daily problems than married people. Second, since the end is near, Christians should not let marriage and worldly matters be their main focus. Their main focus should be Christ and eternity. Third, marriage involves earthly responsibilities and divided interests, so those who stay single can dedicate their lives more fully to serving…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3232. without carefulness--I would have you to be not merely "without trouble," but "without distracting cares" (so the Greek). careth--if he uses aright the advantages of his condition.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:32

• Care
• Celibacy
• Marriage
• Stoicism
• Wife
• Zeal, Religious

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