EasyEnglish Bible 2018
1 Corinthians 7:39
39If a woman has married, she may not leave her husband while he still lives. But if he dies, then she is free to marry again. She may marry any man that she wants to. But he must be someone who belongs to the Lord.
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 another man may not change his thoughts. He may be sure that he does not need to marry his young woman. If he decides not to marry her, he is doing the right thing. 38So the man who marries his young woman is doing a good thing. But the man who does not marry is doing a better thing. If a woman has married, she may not leave her husband while he still lives. But if he dies, then she is free to marry again. She may marry any man that she wants to. But he must be someone who belongs to the Lord. 40I do think that she would be happier if she remains without a husband. That is what I think, and God's Spirit also helps me with this.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 71 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 7:10I will say this to people who have married. (This is not my rule. It is a rule that comes from the Lord himself.) A wife must not leave her husband.
- Romans 7:2So think about this. A woman who has a husband must stay with him as long as he still lives. That is what the law says. But if her husband dies, she becomes free from that law about her marriage.
- Genesis 6:2The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. They chose for themselves any of them that they wanted to become their wives.
- Deuteronomy 7:3You must not marry any of these people. Do not let your daughters marry their sons. Do not take their daughters to marry your sons.
- Malachi 2:11Judah's people have turned against God. As a result, people have done disgusting things in Jerusalem and in all Israel. You have spoiled the holy place, the temple that the Lord loves. You have turned away from the Lord and you worship foreign gods.
- 2 Corinthians 6:14Do not become united with people who do not believe in Christ. God has made you right with himself. Right and wrong cannot work together. Light and dark cannot join together.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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