1 Corinthians 6 16

1 Corinthians 6:16 kjv

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

1 Corinthians 6:16 nkjv

Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh."

1 Corinthians 6:16 niv

Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."

1 Corinthians 6:16 esv

Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."

1 Corinthians 6:16 nlt

And don't you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, "The two are united into one."

1 Corinthians 6 verses

1 Corinthians 6 16 Meaning

This verse powerfully asserts that engaging in sexual intimacy, even outside of God's covenant of marriage, creates a profound and complete "one flesh" union, echoing the divine declaration at creation. Paul highlights that joining oneself to a harlot (a term referring to any illicit sexual partner) results in an unbreakable physical and spiritual bond, much like that ordained for husband and wife. The core meaning is that sexual intercourse is never merely a physical act but an act of profound relational unity, and therefore, its misuse has deeply defiling spiritual consequences, contaminating the body that belongs to Christ.

1 Corinthians 6 16 Context

First Corinthians chapter 6 begins with Paul chastising the Corinthian believers for taking fellow believers to secular courts. He then pivots to address rampant sexual immorality within the church. The broader context of Paul's letter is to correct various errors and abuses in the Corinthian congregation, including divisions, pride, spiritual gift misuse, and especially, an apparent libertinism where some felt "all things are lawful" (1 Cor 6:12). Corinth itself was a prominent port city, known for its widespread idolatry, pagan cults, and sexual license, with temples like that of Aphrodite fostering ritual prostitution. Paul directly challenges the prevalent pagan worldview that divorced the physical body from spiritual significance, teaching instead that the body, redeemed by Christ, is sacred and intrinsically linked to one's spiritual life and destiny. This verse specifically condemns illicit sexual union by referencing the deepest possible human bond—that of "one flesh"—to show the profound spiritual consequences.

1 Corinthians 6 16 Word analysis

• Or do you not know (ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε - ē ouk oidate): Paul's characteristic rhetorical question, designed to jolt the Corinthians into remembering what they should already know from Scripture and Christian teaching. It implies a known, foundational truth they are overlooking.
• he who is joined (ὁ κολλώμενος - ho kollōmenos): From the verb kollao, meaning "to glue," "to cleave firmly to," "to adhere closely," or "to join oneself to." This word describes an intense, inseparable bond, like being welded together. It is a much stronger term than merely "having intercourse." It suggests a commitment of self in the act.
• to a harlot (τῇ πόρνῃ - tē pornē): While pornē literally means a prostitute, Paul uses this specific instance to illustrate the broader principle against porneia (sexual immorality of any kind outside God's design for marriage, including fornication, adultery, incest, etc.). It refers to a sexually illicit relationship, not just casual encounters.
• is one body with her (ἓν σῶμά ἐστιν - hen sōma estin): "One body" (a shared body) signifies a profound physical unity. Paul's emphasis here is on the material reality of the fusion. It's not just two separate bodies in contact; there's a temporary but powerful formation of a single entity, biologically and experientially, for the duration of the act and with lasting spiritual implications.
• For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." (Ἔσονται γὰρ, φησίν, οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν - Esontai gar, phēsin, hoi duo eis sarka mian): This is a direct quote from the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) of Gen 2:24.
  • He says (φησίν - phēsin): Attributes the declaration to God, underscoring the divine origin and authority of the "one flesh" principle.
  • one flesh (μίαν σάρκα - mian sarka): Mia sarx is the foundational biblical concept defining the profound, exclusive, and total union between husband and wife in marriage. It encompasses not just physical union but also psychological, emotional, and spiritual unity. Paul applies this sacred term, which denotes comprehensive solidarity and identification, to sexual intercourse with a harlot, showing that even in illegitimate acts, this powerful principle of deep, binding union is at work. Thus, such an act is inherently a profound corruption, not a trivial matter.

1 Corinthians 6 16 Bonus section

• The strength of the Greek verb kollao (joined) indicates more than a casual connection; it suggests an adhesion or commitment that permanently alters the spiritual landscape of the individuals involved. This makes clear that sexual encounters outside of marriage are not trivial, but fundamentally transformative and damaging to one's spiritual state.
• Paul uses the very covenant language intended for marriage (Gen 2:24, "one flesh") to describe the bond formed with a harlot, thereby emphasizing the perversion and desecration that occurs when a sacred principle is applied to an unholy act.
• This verse contributes significantly to the biblical argument for sexual purity and the sanctity of marriage. It argues against any view that compartmentalizes human existence into a 'spiritual' part untouched by physical actions, asserting the unity and integrity of the person.

1 Corinthians 6 16 Commentary

Paul's teaching in 1 Cor 6:16 underscores the sacred and binding nature of sexual union, even when it occurs outside of its God-ordained context. By referencing Genesis 2:24, Paul roots his argument in the foundational principle of creation, where husband and wife become "one flesh," a term signifying profound and holistic unity. His point is startlingly clear: this same deep, unifying principle operates in illicit sexual encounters, not validating them, but demonstrating their severe consequences. Engaging in sexual activity with a harlot—or any non-marital partner—does not nullify the "one flesh" dynamic. Instead, it creates an impure and spiritually damaging bond, fundamentally violating the integrity of the believer's body, which is intended for holy union with Christ. This unique form of sin against one's own body deeply pollutes the believer, making such a union antithetical to being a member of Christ's body and a temple of the Holy Spirit. The implications are profound, calling believers to a radical separation from all forms of sexual immorality.