1 Corinthians 7:9

1 Corinthians 7:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
• New International Version (NIV)But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:9

7I would like everyone to be like me. However, each person has a special gift from God, and these gifts vary from person to person. 8I say to those who are not married, especially to widows: It is good for you to stay single like me. However, 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. 11If she does, she should stay single or make up with her husband. Likewise, a husband should not divorce his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:9 word by word

εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν· κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν γαμῆσαι ἢ πυροῦσθαι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• theyἐγκρατεύομαιegkrateuomai · to self-controlG1467
• cannotοὐou · noG3756
• let them marryγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• betterκρείσσωνkreisson · greaterG2908
• thanἤē · orG2228
• to burnπυρόωpuroō · to burnG4448

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:9

• 1 Corinthians 7:2But in order to avoid sexual sins, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
• 1 Timothy 5:11Don’t include younger widows ⌞on your list⌟. Whenever their natural desires become stronger than their devotion to Christ, they’ll want to marry.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9But if they cannot contain - If they find it inconvenient and uncomfortable to continue as widowers and widows, let them remarry. It is better to marry than to burn - Bishop Pearce translates the original thus: For it is better to marry than to be made uneasy. , says he, "signifies primarily to burn; but in a metaphorical sense, to be troubled, vexed, or made uneasy. So in 2 Corinthians 11:29; : Who is offended and I burn not, , and I am not troubled. So…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9But if they cannot contain - If they have not the gift of continence; if they cannot be secure against temptation; if they have not strength of virtue enough to preserve them from the danger of sin, and of bringing reproach and scandal on the church. It is better - It is to be preferred. Than to burn - The passion here referred to is often compared to a fire; see Virgil, Aeneas 4:68. It is better to marry, even with all the inconveniences attending the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9Paul advises that staying unmarried is better because it allows more opportunities to serve Christ without distraction (1 Corinthians 7:32–35). However, even with its distractions, an honorable marriage is much better than living with unsatisfied sexual desire.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. if they cannot contain--that is, "have not continency." burn--with the secret flame of lust, which lays waste the whole inner man. (Compare Augustine [Holy Virginity]). The dew of God's grace is needed to stifle the flame, which otherwise would thrust men at last into hell-fire.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:9

• Celibacy
• Chastity
• Continence
• Marriage
• Stoicism
• Widow

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