English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 7:3
3The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
- New International Version (NIV)The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.
Context of 1 Corinthians 7:3
1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 71 Corinthians 7:3 word by word
τῇ γυναικὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἀποδιδότω· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Let the husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
- renderἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
- unto the wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
- dueὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
- benevolenceεὔνοιαeunoia · enthusiasmG2133
- andδέde · thenG1161
- likewiseὁμοίωςhomoiōs · similarlyG3668
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:3
- Exodus 21:10If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights.
- 1 Peter 3:7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence - · Though our version is no translation of the original, yet few persons are at a loss for the meaning, and the context is sufficiently plain. Some have rendered the words, not unaptly, the matrimonial debt, or conjugal duty - that which a wife owes to her husband, and the husband to his wife; and which they must take care mutually to render, else alienation of affection will be the infallible…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Let the husband - “Let them not imagine that there is any virtue in bring separate from each other, as if they were in a state of celibacy” - “Doddridge.” They are bound to each other; in every way they are to evince kindness, and to seek to promote the happiness and purity of each other. There is a great deal of delicacy used here by Paul, and his expression is removed as far as possible from the grossness of pagan writers. His meaning is plain; but…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4To avoid the temptation of sexual immorality, married Christians should consider their spouse's sexual needs. Both partners have the right to sexual intimacy in marriage, and they should not withhold it. In marriage, each person gives their spouse authority over their body, but this authority should never be abused.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. The duty of cohabitation on the part of the married. due benevolence--The oldest manuscripts read simply, "her due"; that is, the conjugal cohabitation due by the marriage contract (compare 1Co 7:4).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:3
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries