1 Corinthians 7 11

1 Corinthians 7:11 kjv

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:11 nkjv

But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:11 niv

But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:11 esv

(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:11 nlt

But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.

1 Corinthians 7 verses

1 Corinthians 7 11 meaning

This verse issues a clear directive to a wife who has separated from her husband: she has two choices, either to remain unmarried or to seek reconciliation with her husband. Concurrently, it equally prohibits the husband from divorcing his wife. It underscores the sanctity of the marital bond and the priority of restoration over permanent separation or remarriage after a separation, reflecting a commitment to the permanence of the covenant of marriage.

1 Corinthians 7 11 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 7 directly addresses various questions the Corinthian believers had posed to Paul regarding marriage, singleness, divorce, and sexual relations (v. 1). Paul navigates these complex issues by offering guidance rooted in the Lord's teaching (v. 10), as well as his own apostolic wisdom inspired by the Spirit (v. 12, 25, 40). Verse 11 specifically builds on the instruction in v. 10, which firmly states, "A wife should not separate from her husband." Acknowledging that separations, though discouraged, might still occur, v. 11 then provides specific, restrictive commands for such a situation. It must be read in light of Christ's broader teaching on the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage (Matt 19, Mark 10) which Paul frequently upholds. Historically, Corinth was a city notorious for its lax sexual morals and diverse cultural practices, including prevalent divorce for men and, less commonly, for women in Roman society, making Paul's strong emphasis on marital permanence and reconciliation counter-cultural.

1 Corinthians 7 11 Word analysis

• But: (δὲ - de) - A particle indicating a transition, often a mild contrast or continuation, here serving to present a follow-up directive based on a potential scenario arising from the previous command in v. 10. It acknowledges a situation that ideally should not happen but sometimes does.
• if she depart: (ἐὰν δὲ ἀποστῇ - ean de apostei) -
  • if she depart: The Greek word ἀποστῇ (apostei), from ἀφίστημι (aphistēmi), means "to withdraw," "to stand away from," or "to separate." This refers to a physical separation from her husband, not necessarily a legal divorce (which would be more explicitly ἀπολύω - apolyo or other specific terms Paul uses in other contexts). It implies the wife initiating the separation. This phrase forms the condition for the two subsequent commands.
• let her remain unmarried: (ἀγάμου μενέτω - agamou menetō) -
  • let her remain: (μενέτω - menetō) is an imperative, a direct command. It conveys strong obligation: "she must remain."
  • unmarried: (ἀγάμου - agamou) means "without a spouse" or "single." It clarifies that even a separated wife is still considered married in God's eyes and is not free to remarry. This emphasizes the enduring nature of the marital covenant despite physical separation.
• or be reconciled: (ἢ καταλλαγήτω - ē katallagētō) -
  • or: (ἢ - ē) introduces the second and preferred alternative.
  • be reconciled: (καταλλαγήτω - katallagētō) is also an imperative. From καταλλάσσω (katallassō), meaning "to change from enmity to friendship," "to restore to favor," or "to reconcile." This command urges active pursuit of restoration to the original marital state, suggesting forgiveness, dialogue, and effort to mend the relationship.
  • to her husband: (τῷ ἀνδρὶ - tō andri) refers explicitly to the spouse from whom she has separated, emphasizing that the reconciliation is specific to her husband, reinforcing the original marital bond.
• and let not the husband: (καὶ ἄνδρα μὴ ἀφιέτω - kai andra mē afietō) -
  • and: (καὶ - kai) introduces a parallel but distinct command, underscoring the reciprocal nature of the marital obligations.
  • let not the husband: This construction specifically places the negative command on the husband, preventing him from initiating divorce.
• put away his wife: (τὴν γυναῖκα - tēn gunaika) -
  • put away: (ἀφιέτω - afietō) is an imperative, "let him send away" or "let him divorce," with the negative particle μὴ (mē) making it "let him not send away." This word, from ἀφίημι (aphiēmi), clearly signifies divorce—a formal dismissal or severance of the marital bond.
  • his wife: (τὴν γυναῖκα - tēn gunaika) specifies the object of the prohibition, mirroring the earlier mention of the "husband" and "wife" in the verse.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• But if she depart, let her remain unmarried: This phrase presents a conditional scenario followed by a non-negotiable instruction. The emphasis is on maintaining marital fidelity even in a state of separation. It clarifies that a mere separation does not dissolve the marital covenant in the eyes of God, thereby precluding remarriage as long as the original spouse lives.
• or be reconciled to her husband: This is offered as the divinely preferred alternative to an indefinite unmarried separation. It implies an active, intentional process to mend the broken relationship, prioritizing restoration. Reconciliation maintains the "one-flesh" union intended by God from creation.
• and let not the husband put away his wife: This concluding phrase provides a balanced and symmetrical instruction, directly prohibiting the husband from initiating a divorce. It reinforces that the principles of marital permanence and the discouragement of divorce apply equally to both spouses, echoing Christ's teaching on the issue (Mark 10:11-12).

1 Corinthians 7 11 Bonus section

It's important to distinguish the "departure" or "separation" (apostei) in v. 11 from the "putting away" or "divorce" (afietō) mentioned later in the verse and in Christ's teachings. Paul here addresses a scenario where a marriage is strained to the point of physical separation, yet the covenant bond itself has not been officially severed (in God's eyes, or perhaps legally if the local context distinguishes it from divorce). This advice in 7:11 does not directly engage with the "exception clauses" for divorce mentioned by Jesus (Matt 5:32, 19:9 for sexual immorality, porneia) or Paul's own allowance for a deserted believer by an unbelieving spouse (1 Cor 7:15). Instead, 1 Cor 7:11 seems to deal with separations arising from less severe but still difficult marital discord within a Christian marriage, where neither unfaithfulness nor an unbeliever's desertion is the cause. In such cases, the divine call to reconciliation and marital fidelity remains paramount.

1 Corinthians 7 11 Commentary

1 Cor 7:11 delivers a strong, uncompromising mandate concerning separation and divorce, especially for Christian couples. Paul first prohibits the wife from separating from her husband (v. 10). Should such a separation nevertheless occur, this verse stipulates two and only two legitimate options for the wife: either to remain unmarried (meaning celibate and dedicated to her existing marital vow) or to reconcile with her husband. Remarriage to another is expressly disallowed under these circumstances. Paul's reasoning is deeply rooted in the Christian understanding of marriage as a permanent, lifelong covenant ordained by God, not to be easily dissolved by human will. The inclusion of the command for the husband not to divorce his wife provides a crucial symmetry, emphasizing that the sanctity and obligations of the marriage covenant apply equally to both partners. This teaching reflects Jesus' own high regard for marriage, viewing it as a union where "what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Matt 19:6). The underlying call is for faithfulness to the covenant and strenuous effort toward reconciliation rather than capitulation to separation or divorce.