1 Corinthians 7:34

1 Corinthians 7:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
• New International Version (NIV)and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
• New King James Version (NKJV)There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:34

32And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. 35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord. 36If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.

1 Corinthians 7:34 word by word

καὶ μεμέρισται. καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄγαμος καὶ ἡ παρθένος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ἵνα ᾖ ἁγία καὶ τῷ σώματι καὶ τῷ πνεύματι· ἡ δὲ γαμήσασα μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου, πῶς ἀρέσῃ τῷ ἀνδρί.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• There is differenceμερίζωmerizō · to divideG3307
• a wifeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a wifeγυνήgunē · womanG1135
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• a virginπαρθένοςparthenos · virginG3933
• The unmarriedἄγαμοςagamos · unmarriedG22
• careth forμεριμνάωmerimnaō · to worryG3309
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• she may beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• in bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• in spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• butδέde · thenG1161
• that is marriedγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060
• of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• she may pleaseἀρέσκωareskō · to pleaseG700
• husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:34

• Luke 2:36There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.
• 2 Corinthians 7:11For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
• 2 Corinthians 8:16But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you,
• 2 Corinthians 11:28Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches.
• 1 Timothy 3:5But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?
• 1 Corinthians 6:20For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
• Romans 6:13and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.
• Romans 12:1Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.
• Philippians 1:20My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Luke 10:40But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone? Tell her to help me.”

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:34

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin - That is: There is this difference between a married and an unmarried woman. The unmarried careth (only) for the things of the Lord, having no domestic duties to perform. That she may be holy - separated to Divine employments, both in body and spirit. Whereas she that is married careth (also) for the things of the world, how she may please her husband, having many domestic duties to fulfill, her…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34Between a wife and a virgin, - Between a woman that is married and one that is unmarried. The apostle says that a similar difference between the condition of her that is married and her that is unmarried takes place, which had been observed between the married and the unmarried man. The Greek word here ( ́ memeristai) may mean, “is divided,” and be rendered, “the wife and the virgin are divided in the same manner;” that is, there is the same difference in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 Considering the distress of those times, the unmarried state was best. Notwithstanding, the apostle does not condemn marriage. How opposite are those to the apostle Paul who forbid many to marry, and entangle them with vows to remain single, whether they ought to do so or not! He exhorts all Christians to holy indifference toward the world. As to relations; they must not set their hearts on the comforts of the state. As to afflictions; they…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-35Paul provides three reasons why it is often better for single people to stay unmarried. First, single people face fewer daily problems than married people. Second, since the end is near, Christians should not let marriage and worldly matters be their main focus. Their main focus should be Christ and eternity. Third, marriage involves earthly responsibilities and divided interests, so those who stay single can dedicate their lives more fully to serving…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. difference also--Not merely the unmarried and the married man differ in their respective duties, but also the wife and the virgin. Indeed a woman undergoes a greater change of condition than a man in contracting marriage.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:34

• Celibacy
• Man
• Marriage
• Wife
• Zeal, Religious

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