God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 7:4
4A wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but his wife does.
1 Corinthians 7:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
- New International Version (NIV)The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
Context of 1 Corinthians 7:4
2But in order to avoid sexual sins, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3Husbands and wives should satisfy each other’s ⌞sexual⌟ needs. A wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but his wife does. 5Don’t withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together so that Satan doesn’t use your lack of self-control to tempt you. 6What I have just said is not meant as a command but as a suggestion.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 71 Corinthians 7:4 word by word
ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ἀνήρ· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλ᾽ ἡ γυνή.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- The wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
- hathἐξουσιάζωexousiazō · to have authorityG1850
- notοὐou · noG3756
- of her ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
- bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- the husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
- andδέde · thenG1161
- likewiseὁμοίωςhomoiōs · similarlyG3668
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:4
- Hosea 3:3Then I told her, “You must wait for me a long time. Don’t be a prostitute or offer yourself to any man. I will wait for you.”
- Matthew 19:9I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman.”
- Mark 10:11He answered them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The wife hath not power, etc. - Her person belongs to her husband; her husband's person belongs to her: neither of them has any authority to refuse what the other has a matrimonial right to demand. The woman that would act so is either a knave or a fool. It would be trifling to attribute her conduct to any other cause than weakness or folly. She does not love her husband; or she loves some one else better than her husband; or she makes pretensions to a…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The wife hath not power - By the marriage covenant that power, in this respect, is transferred to the husband, And likewise, also, the husband - The equal rights of husband and wife, in the Scriptures, are everywhere maintained. They are to regard themselves as united in most intimate union, and in most tender ties.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 7:4
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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