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 King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:39

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. 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. 40But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.

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 7:10But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband.
• Romans 7:2For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her.
• Genesis 6:2The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives.
• Deuteronomy 7:3You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters,
• Malachi 2:11Judah has been unfaithful, and a detestable thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. The men of Judah have defiled the Lord’s beloved sanctuary by marrying women who worship idols.
• 2 Corinthians 6:14Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live 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