God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 7:16
16How do you as a wife know whether you will save your husband? How do you as a husband know whether you will save your wife?
1 Corinthians 7:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
- New International Version (NIV)How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
- English Standard Version (ESV)For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
- New King James Version (NKJV)For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Context of 1 Corinthians 7:16
14Actually, the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and an unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, their children would be unacceptable ⌞to God⌟, but now they are acceptable to him. 15But if the unbelieving partners leave, let them go. Under these circumstances a Christian man or Christian woman is not bound ⌞by a marriage vow⌟. God has called you to live in peace. How do you as a wife know whether you will save your husband? How do you as a husband know whether you will save your wife? 17Everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him when God called him. This is the guideline I use in every church. 18Any man who was already circumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t undo his circumcision. Any man who was uncircumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t get circumcised.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 71 Corinthians 7:16 word by word
τί γὰρ οἶδας, γύναι, εἰ τὸν ἄνδρα σώσεις; ἢ τί οἶδας, ἄνερ, εἰ τὴν γυναῖκα σώσεις;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:16
- 1 Corinthians 9:22I became like a person weak in faith to win those who are weak in faith. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some of them.
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise.
- Luke 15:10So I can guarantee that God’s angels are happy about one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts.”
- 1 Timothy 4:16Focus on your life and your teaching. Continue to do what I’ve told you. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.
- James 5:19My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders from the truth, someone can bring that person back.
- 1 Peter 3:1Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. Some husbands may not obey God’s word. Their wives could win these men ⌞for Christ⌟ by the way they live without saying anything.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For what knowest thou, O wife - You that are Christians, and who have heathen partners, do not give them up because they are such, for you may become the means of saving them unto eternal life. Bear your cross, and look up to God, and he may give your unbelieving husband or wife to your prayers.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For what knowest thou - The apostle here assigns a reason why the believing party should not separate from the other needlessly, or why he should not desire to be separated. The reason is, the possibility, or the probability, that the unbelieving party might be converted by the example and entreaties of the other. Whether then - How do you know “but” this may be done? Is there not a possibility, nay a probability of it, and is not this a sufficient…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. 16There is always hope that the believing spouse will lead the unbelieving partner to faith in Christ. However, the Greek text is unclear and might also mean there is no guarantee the believing partner will ever convince the unbelieving spouse.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. What knowest thou but that by staying with thy unbelieving partner thou mayest save him or her? Enforcing the precept to stay with the unbelieving consort (1Co 7:12-14). So Ruth the Moabitess became a convert to her husband's faith: and Joseph and Moses probably gained over their wives. So conversely the unbelieving husband may be won by the believing wife (1Pe 3:1) [Calvin]. Or else (1Co 7:15), if thy unbelieving consort wishes to depart, let him go…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:16
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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