1 Corinthians 7:36

1 Corinthians 7:36 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
• New International Version (NIV)If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:36

34His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible. But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin. 37But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. 38So the person who marries his fiancée does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better.

1 Corinthians 7:36 word by word

Εἰ δέ τις ἀσχημονεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ νομίζει, ἐὰν ᾖ ὑπέρακμος, καὶ οὕτως ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι, ὃ θέλει ποιείτω· οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει, γαμείτωσαν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• thinkνομίζωnomizō · to thinkG3543
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he behavethἀσχημονέωaschēmoneō · to act improperlyG807
• himselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• towardἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• his virginὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• his virginπαρθένοςparthenos · virginG3933
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• she passεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the flower ofὑπέρακμοςhuperakmos · past one’s primeG5230
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• needὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• requireγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• let him doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• what he willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• he sinnethἁμαρτάνωhamartanō · to sinG264
• notοὐou · noG3756
• let them marryγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:36

• 1 Samuel 2:33The few not cut off from serving at my altar will survive, but only so their eyes can go blind and their hearts break, and their children will die a violent death.
• 1 Corinthians 7:9But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.
• 1 Corinthians 7:28But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:36

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36Uncomely towards his virgin - Different meanings have been assigned to this verse; I shall mention three of the principal. "In those early times, both among the Hebrews and Christians, the daughters were wholly in the power of the father, so that he might give or not give them in marriage as he chose; and might bind them to perpetual celibacy if he thought proper; and to this case the apostle alludes. If the father had devoted his daughter to perpetual…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36That he behaveth himself uncomely - Acts an unbecoming part, imposes an unnecessary, painful, and improper constraint, crosses her inclinations which are in them selves proper. Toward his virgin - His daughter, or his ward, or any unmarried female committed to his care. If she pass the flower of her age - If she pass the marriageable age and remains unmarried. It is well known that in the east it was regarded as especially dishonorable to remain…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. 36-38Paul suggests choosing a celibate life over marriage. However, he permits marriage if sexual desires become too tempting. Those who can control their desires well should consider celibacy.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3636. behaveth ... uncomely--is not treating his daughter well in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and thus debarring her from the lawful gratification of her natural feeling as a marriageable woman. need so require--if the exigencies of the case require it; namely, regard to the feelings and welfare of his daughter. Opposed to "having no necessity" (1Co 7:37). let them marry--the daughter and her suitor.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:36

• Celibacy
• Chastity
• Continence
• Marriage

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