1 Corinthians 7:35

1 Corinthians 7:35 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
• New International Version (NIV)I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:35

33but the married man cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife— 34and he is divided. The unmarried woman, as well as the virgin, cares about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. Now I say this for your own benefit—not to put a restraint on you, but to promote proper and constant service to the Lord without distraction. 36But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if the time is ripe and it is meant to be, let him do what he decides. He does not sin. Let them marry. 37But he who stands firm in his heart—who has no pressure, but has power over his own will and has so determined in his own heart to keep her a virgin—he will do well.

1 Corinthians 7:35 word by word

τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν σύμφορον λέγω, οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ εὐπάρεδρον τῷ κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• I speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• forπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• ownαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• profitσυμφέρωsumpherō · be profitableG4851
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• I may castἐπιβάλλωepiballō · to put on/seizeG1911
• a snareβρόχοςbrochos · restraintG1029
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• that which is comelyεὐσχήμωνeuschēmōn · properG2158
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• that ye may attend uponεὐπρόσεδρος, εὐπάρεδροςeuprosedros · devotedG2145
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• without distractionἀπερισπάστωςaperispastōs · undistractedG563

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:35

• 1 Corinthians 7:2But because of much immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
• Matthew 19:12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made that way by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who can accept this, let him accept it.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:36But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if the time is ripe and it is meant to be, let him do what he decides. He does not sin. Let them marry.
• Ephesians 5:3But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed—don’t even let these be mentioned among you, as is proper for kedoshim.
• Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.
• 1 Timothy 1:10the sexually immoral, homosexuals, slave-traders, liars, perjurers, and for anything else that opposes sound teaching—
• 1 Corinthians 7:33but the married man cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife—
• Luke 8:14Now that which fell into the thorns are those who were hearing; but as they go along the way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear mature fruit.
• Luke 10:40But Martha was distracted with much serving; so she approached Yeshua and said, “Master, doesn’t it concern you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Then tell her to help me!”
• Luke 21:34“But watch out so your hearts are not weighed down by carousing, strong drink, and the worries of life. Do not let that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35This I speak for your own profit - The advices belong to yourselves alone, because of the peculiar circumstances in which you are placed. Nothing spoken here was ever designed to be of general application; it concerned the Church at Corinth alone, or Churches in similar circumstances. Not that I may cast a snare upon you - ̔ ̔ - Here is a manifest allusion to the Retiarius among the Romans, who carried a small casting net, which he endeavored to throw…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35For your own profit - That you may avail yourselves of all your advantages and privileges, and pursue such a course as shall tend most to advance your personal piety and salvation. Not that I may cast a snare upon you - The word rendered “snare” ( ́ brochon) means a cord, a rope, a bond; and the sense is, that Paul would not BinD them by any rule which God had not made; or that he would not restrain them from that which is lawful, and which the welfare of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 Considering the distress of those times, the unmarried state was best. Notwithstanding, the apostle does not condemn marriage. How opposite are those to the apostle Paul who forbid many to marry, and entangle them with vows to remain single, whether they ought to do so or not! He exhorts all Christians to holy indifference toward the world. As to relations; they must not set their hearts on the comforts of the state. As to afflictions; they…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-35Paul provides three reasons why it is often better for single people to stay unmarried. First, single people face fewer daily problems than married people. Second, since the end is near, Christians should not let marriage and worldly matters be their main focus. Their main focus should be Christ and eternity. Third, marriage involves earthly responsibilities and divided interests, so those who stay single can dedicate their lives more fully to serving…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3535. for your own profit--not to display my apostolic authority. not ... cast a snare upon you--image from throwing a noose over an animal in hunting. Not that by hard injunctions I may entangle you with the fear of committing sin where there is no sin. comely--befitting under present circumstances. attend upon--literally, "assiduously wait on"; sitting down to the duty. Compare Lu 10:39, Mary; Lu 2:37, "Anna ... a widow, who departed not from the temple…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:35

• Celibacy
• Marriage

In the dictionaries

• Abuse
• Attend
• Consent
• Contain
• Distraction
• Loose
• Martha
• 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