1 Corinthians 7:11

1 Corinthians 7:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
• New International Version (NIV)But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
• English Standard Version (ESV)(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:11

9However, if you cannot control your desires, you should get married. It is better for you to marry than to burn ⌞with sexual desire⌟. 10I pass this command along (not really I, but the Lord): A wife shouldn’t leave her husband. If she does, she should stay single or make up with her husband. Likewise, a husband should not divorce his wife. 12I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If any Christian man is married to a woman who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13If any Christian woman is married to a man who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:11 word by word

ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω· καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• she departχωρίζωchōrizō · to separate/leaveG5563
• let her remainμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• unmarriedἄγαμοςagamos · unmarriedG22
• orἤē · orG2228
• be reconciledκαταλλάσσωkatallassō · to reconcileG2644
• toὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• toἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• notμήmē · notG3361
• put awayἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: leaveG863
• wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:11

• Judges 19:2But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went to her father’s home, to Bethlehem in Judah. When she had been there four months,
• Jeremiah 3:1A saying: If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, her first husband shouldn’t go back to her again. The land would become thoroughly polluted. “You have acted like a prostitute who has many lovers. And now you want to come back to me!” declares the Lord.
• Deuteronomy 22:19They will fine him 2¼ pounds of silver and give it to the girl’s father. The husband ruined the reputation of an Israelite virgin. She will continue to be his wife, and he can never divorce her as long as he lives.
• Isaiah 50:1This is what the Lord says: Where are your mother’s divorce papers? Did I give her any to get rid of her? To which of my creditors did I sell you? You were sold because of your sins. I got rid of your mother because of your rebellion.
• Mark 10:2Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, “Can a husband divorce his wife?”

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11But, and if she depart - He puts the case as probable, because it was frequent, but lays it under restrictions. Let her remain unmarried - She departs at her own peril; but she must not marry another: she must either continue unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife - Divorces cannot be allowed but in the case of fornication: an act of this kind dissolves the marriage vow; but nothing else can. It is a fact…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11But and if she depart - If she have withdrawn by a rash and foolish act; if she has attempted to dissolve the marriage vow, she is to remain unmarried, or be reconciled. She is not at liberty to marry another. This may refer, I suppose, to instances where wives, ignorant of the rule of Christ, and supposing that they had a right to separate themselves from their husbands, had rashly left them, and had supposed that the marriage contract was dissolved…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-16Verses 10-16 Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Ro 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though unbelievers. It should be the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-11Paul advises Christian couples considering divorce. not I, but the Lord: This does not mean Paul's other instructions (see 1 Corinthians 7:12, 25, 40) have less authority. It means this advice is based on known teachings of Jesus (see Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11–12; Luke 16:18). But if she does: Paul recognizes that some couples struggle to live together, but even then, they must honor their marriage vows and remain faithful to their spouse alone (see…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. But and if she depart--or "be separated." If the sin of separation has been committed, that of a new marriage is not to be added (Mt 5:32). be reconciled--by appeasing her husband's displeasure, and recovering his good will. let not ... husband put away ... wife--In Mt 5:32 the only exception allowed is, "saving for the cause of fornication."Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:11

• Divorce
• 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