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

The apostle Paul instructs divorced or separated women not to remarry. If they remain unmarried, they should reconcile with their husband or accept celibacy. This implies that reconciliation with the estranged husband is the preferred option for those who are separated, and for those who are divorced, remaining unmarried is the command.

1 Corinthians 7 11 Context

This verse is part of Paul's extended discussion on marriage and singleness in Corinth. The Corinthian church was a complex social environment with various issues related to relationships and morality. Paul addresses specific questions raised by the Corinthians, including those concerning marriage, divorce, and the ethical implications of sexual relations. In this particular passage, Paul is offering guidance on what believers should do if they are already married, separated, or divorced, aiming to promote peace, holiness, and faithfulness within their relationships, in accordance with God's design. He contrasts his counsel with possible lax views on marriage and divorce prevalent in the culture.

1 Corinthians 7 11 Word Analysis

• δὲ (de): "but" or "and" - a common conjunction, often adversative, indicating a contrast or transition. Here, it transitions from the general principle in v.10 to a specific command for separated or divorced women.
• γυνὴ (gunē): "woman" or "wife".
• ἐὰν (ean): "if" - a conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation.
• ἀφῇ (aphē): "she puts away" or "she divorces" - from the verb ἄφημι (aphiēmi), meaning to let go, send away, forgive, or permit. In this context, it specifically refers to the act of ending a marriage, whether by formal divorce or by separation.
• τὸν ἄνδρα (ton andra): "the husband" - accusative case, direct object of the verb.
• χ étépwç (eterōs): "otherwise" or "in another way."
• εἰ δὲ (ei de): "but if" - another conditional conjunction.
• μὴ (mē): "not" - the common Greek negative particle.
• μείνῃ (meinē): "she remains" or "she abides" - from the verb μένω (menō), indicating staying in a particular state or condition.
• ἄγαμος (agamos): "unmarried" - referring to a state of celibacy or not being legally bound by marriage.
• or: This indicates an alternative. The choice is between remaining unmarried, or reconciling.
• καὶ (kai): "and" - a coordinating conjunction.
• τὸν ἄνδρα (ton andra): "the husband."
• ἀπολλύω (apolluō): "to lose," "to destroy," but here in the context of marital relationships, it implies being reunited with or coming back to the husband. The implication is that this separation is to be seen as a loss that should be rectified if possible, aligning with the idea of not truly being free from the marital bond by separation alone, as hinted at by Rom 7:2-3.
• εἰρήνη (eirēnē): "peace" - the desired state of the relationship, a peaceful reconciliation.
• or: Presents the other alternative to reconciliation.
• unmarried: This term signifies being without a spouse, either never married, widowed, or legally divorced and not remarried.
• reconcile: to come back together, to be restored to a former relationship, particularly the marital union.
• accept celibacy: to live in continence and unmarried state.

Word Group Analysis:

• "if she puts away her husband": This phrase addresses the scenario of a wife initiating separation or divorce. The language echoes that used for divorce in other Gospels (Matt 5:32), but Paul focuses on the woman's agency in this hypothetical.
• "let her remain unmarried": This is Paul's primary instruction for women who have been put away. The emphasis is on abstaining from remarriage, aligning with Jesus' pronouncements on divorce, which effectively disallowed remarriage for the divorced party (Matt 19:9).
• "or be reconciled to her husband": This presents a concession or an alternative path. It suggests that the separation may not be absolute or permanent. Reconciliation is encouraged, provided it can be achieved peacefully. This implies that the dissolution of the marriage, if not a canonical divorce due to adultery (as per Jesus' exception), still leaves a spiritual connection that calls for restoration if possible.
• "and let not the husband put his wife away": This part seems to be a reciprocal instruction from the broader context of vv.10-11, although this specific verse structure focuses on the wife's situation after a separation initiated by either party. The command emphasizes that the husband should not also take advantage of the situation by seeking a new union.

1 Corinthians 7 11 Bonus Section

The phrasing "be reconciled to her husband" carries significant weight. It doesn't demand a return to an abusive or unrepentant situation, but rather opens the door for the restoration of the marital relationship where reconciliation is genuinely possible and beneficial, consistent with God's purposes for marriage as a covenant reflecting Christ and the Church. The broader context of 1 Corinthians 7, including the counsel in verses 8-9 regarding the unmarried and widows, highlights Paul's view that remaining in one's current state (single, married, widowed) is often a state of peace and potential for greater devotion to God. The implication of "reconciled" also suggests that if a divorce or separation has occurred, but the legal/spiritual bond of marriage is still considered to exist, then returning to that original spouse is the prescribed course of action rather than seeking a new marriage.

1 Corinthians 7 11 Commentary

Paul's instruction here is a stringent one: if a wife has separated from her husband, she is to remain unmarried. The sole alternative offered is reconciliation. This command is rooted in Jesus’ strong stance against divorce (Matthew 5:32; 19:11-12) and His declaration that remarrying after divorce constitutes adultery. Paul’s wording, particularly the phrase "let her remain unmarried," implies that any attempt to marry another man after divorce or separation is disallowed. The encouragement to be reconciled indicates that such separations, even if causing a state of de facto separation, do not always sever the marital bond in a way that permits remarriage, unless there was an exception such as proven infidelity. This approach aims to maintain the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage, encouraging restoration rather than dissolution when possible. However, this advice is specific to women and assumes a context where separation has occurred, possibly for reasons other than those which Jesus deemed grounds for divorce. It prioritizes the integrity of the original marital covenant, pointing to an ideal of unity and permanence.