1 Corinthians 7:15

1 Corinthians 7:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
• New International Version (NIV)But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:15

13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation? 17Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches.

1 Corinthians 7:15 word by word

εἰ δὲ ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται, χωριζέσθω· οὐ δεδούλωται ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις· ἐν δὲ εἰρήνῃ κέκληκεν ὑμᾶς ὁ θεός.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• the unbelievingἄπιστοςapistos · unbelievingG571
• departχωρίζωchōrizō · to separate/leaveG5563
• A brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• orἤē · orG2228
• a sisterἀδελφήadelphē · sisterG79
• isοὐou · noG3756
• under bondageδουλόωdouloō · to enslaveG1402
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• hath calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• peaceεἰρήνηeirēnē · peaceG1515

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:15

• Matthew 12:50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
• James 2:15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,
• 1 Corinthians 14:33for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
• Romans 12:18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.
• Romans 14:19So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.
• 2 Corinthians 13:11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.
• James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15But if the unbelieving, depart - Whether husband or wife: if such obstinately depart and utterly refuse all cohabitation, a brother or a sister - a Christian man or woman, is not under bondage to any particular laws, so as to be prevented from remarrying. Such, probably, the law stood then; but it is not so now; for the marriage can only be dissolved by death, or by the ecclesiastical court. Even fornication or adultery does not dissolve the marriage…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15But if the unbelieving depart - If they choose to leave you. Let him depart - You cannot prevent it, and you are to submit to it patiently, and bear it as a Christian. A brother or a sister is not under bondage … - Many have supposed that this means that they would be at liberty to marry again when the unbelieving wife or husband had gone away; as Calvin, Grotius, Rosenmuller, etc. But this is contrary to the strain of the argument of the apostle. The…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. 15If the unbeliever ends the marriage, the believing husband or wife can let them go. God wants his people to live in peace, not in the unbearable conflict of a mixed marriage that the non-Christian spouse no longer wants.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. if ... depart--that is, wishes for separation. Translate, "separateth himself": offended with her Christianity, and refusing to live with her unless she renounce it. brother or a sister is not under bondage--is not bound to renounce the faith for the sake of retaining her unbelieving husband [Hammond]. So De 13:6; Mt 10:35-37; Lu 14:26. The believer does not lie under the same obligation in the case of a union with an unbeliever, as in the case of one…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:15

• Divorce
• Marriage
• Meekness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Abuse
• Attend
• Consent
• Contain
• Distraction
• Loose
• Mercy
• Revelation of Christ

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