1 Corinthians 7:3

1 Corinthians 7:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
• New International Version (NIV)The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:3

1Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations. 2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Corinthians 7:3 word by word

τῇ γυναικὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἀποδιδότω· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Let the husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• renderἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
• unto the wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• dueὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
• benevolenceεὔνοιαeunoia · enthusiasmG2133
• andδέde · thenG1161
• likewiseὁμοίωςhomoiōs · similarlyG3668
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:3

• Exodus 21:10“If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy.
• 1 Peter 3:7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence - · Though our version is no translation of the original, yet few persons are at a loss for the meaning, and the context is sufficiently plain. Some have rendered the words, not unaptly, the matrimonial debt, or conjugal duty - that which a wife owes to her husband, and the husband to his wife; and which they must take care mutually to render, else alienation of affection will be the infallible…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Let the husband … - “Let them not imagine that there is any virtue in bring separate from each other, as if they were in a state of celibacy” - “Doddridge.” They are bound to each other; in every way they are to evince kindness, and to seek to promote the happiness and purity of each other. There is a great deal of delicacy used here by Paul, and his expression is removed as far as possible from the grossness of pagan writers. His meaning is plain; but…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4To avoid the temptation of sexual immorality, married Christians should consider their spouse's sexual needs. Both partners have the right to sexual intimacy in marriage, and they should not withhold it. In marriage, each person gives their spouse authority over their body, but this authority should never be abused.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. The duty of cohabitation on the part of the married. due benevolence--The oldest manuscripts read simply, "her due"; that is, the conjugal cohabitation due by the marriage contract (compare 1Co 7:4).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:3

• Continence
• Husband
• Marriage
• Stoicism
• Wife

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