New International Version
1 Corinthians 7:11
11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
1 Corinthians 7:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
- English Standard Version (ESV)(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.
Context of 1 Corinthians 7:11
9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 71 Corinthians 7:11 word by word
ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω· καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- she departχωρίζωchōrizō · to separate/leaveG5563
- let her remainμένωmenō · to stayG3306
- unmarriedἄγαμοςagamos · unmarriedG22
- orἤē · orG2228
- be reconciledκαταλλάσσωkatallassō · to reconcileG2644
- toὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- toἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
- husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
- notμήmē · notG3361
- put awayἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: leaveG863
- wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:11
- Judges 19:2But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months,
- Jeremiah 3:1“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers— would you now return to me?” declares the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 22:19They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.
- Isaiah 50:1This is what the Lord says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
- Mark 10:2Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11But, and if she depart - He puts the case as probable, because it was frequent, but lays it under restrictions. Let her remain unmarried - She departs at her own peril; but she must not marry another: she must either continue unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife - Divorces cannot be allowed but in the case of fornication: an act of this kind dissolves the marriage vow; but nothing else can. It is a fact…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11But and if she depart - If she have withdrawn by a rash and foolish act; if she has attempted to dissolve the marriage vow, she is to remain unmarried, or be reconciled. She is not at liberty to marry another. This may refer, I suppose, to instances where wives, ignorant of the rule of Christ, and supposing that they had a right to separate themselves from their husbands, had rashly left them, and had supposed that the marriage contract was dissolved…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. 10-11Paul advises Christian couples considering divorce. not I, but the Lord: This does not mean Paul's other instructions (see 1 Corinthians 7:12, 25, 40) have less authority. It means this advice is based on known teachings of Jesus (see Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11–12; Luke 16:18). But if she does: Paul recognizes that some couples struggle to live together, but even then, they must honor their marriage vows and remain faithful to their spouse alone (see…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. But and if she depart--or "be separated." If the sin of separation has been committed, that of a new marriage is not to be added (Mt 5:32). be reconciled--by appeasing her husband's displeasure, and recovering his good will. let not ... husband put away ... wife--In Mt 5:32 the only exception allowed is, "saving for the cause of fornication."Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:11
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
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