1 Corinthians 7:39

1 Corinthians 7:39 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
• New Living Translation (NLT)A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:39

37Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better. A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7:39 word by word

Γυνὴ δέδεται ἐφ᾽ ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς· ἐὰν δὲ κοιμηθῇ ὁ ἀνήρ ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ᾧ θέλει γαμηθῆναι, μόνον ἐν κυρίῳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• is boundδέωdeō · to bindG1210
• by the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• asἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• longχρόνοςchronos · timeG5550
• asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
• herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• husbandὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• livethζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• be deadκοιμάωkoimaō · to sleepG2837
• she isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• at libertyἐλεύθεροςeleutheros · free/freedomG1658
• to be married toγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• she willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:39

• 1 Corinthians 7:10Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
• Romans 7:2For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.
• Genesis 6:2that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
• Deuteronomy 7:3Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son.
• Malachi 2:11Judah has dealt treacherously, And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, For Judah has profaned The Lord’s holy institution which He loves: He has married the daughter of a foreign god.
• 2 Corinthians 6:14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:39

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39The wife is bound by the law - This seems to be spoken in answer to some other question of the Corinthians to this effect: "May a woman remarry whose husband is dead, or who has abandoned her?" To which he replies, in general, That as long as her husband is living the law binds her to him alone; but, if the husband die, she is free to remarry, but only in the Lord; that is she must not marry a heathen nor an irreligious man; and she should not only marry…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 39The wife is bound … - ; see the notes at Romans 7:2. Only in the Lord - That is, only to one who is a Christian; with a proper sense of her obligations to Christ, and so as to promote his glory. The apostle supposed that could not be done if she were allowed to marry a pagan, or one of a different religion. The same sentiment he advances in 2 Corinthians 6:14, and it was his intention, undoubtedly, to affirm that it was proper for a widow to marry no one…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-40Verses 36-40 The apostle is thought to give advice here about the disposal of children in marriage. In this view, the general meaning is plain. Children should seek and follow the directions of their parents as to marriage. And parents should consult their children's wishes; and not reckon they have power to do with them, and dictate just as they please, without reason. The whole is closed with advice to widows. Second marriages are not unlawful, so that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 39A widow may marry another man, but only if he loves the Lord. Paul strongly advised Christians not to marry non-believers (see 2 Corinthians 6:14–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3939. bound by the law--The oldest manuscripts omit "by the law." only in the Lord--Let her marry only a Christian (2Co 6:14).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:39

• Celibacy
• Marriage
• Stoicism
• Widow
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• In the Lord
• Abuse
• Attend
• Consent
• Contain
• Distraction
• Loose
• Mercy
• Revelation of Christ
• Snare

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