1 Corinthians 7 27

1 Corinthians 7:27 kjv

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

1 Corinthians 7:27 nkjv

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

1 Corinthians 7:27 niv

Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.

1 Corinthians 7:27 esv

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

1 Corinthians 7:27 nlt

If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married.

1 Corinthians 7 verses

1 Corinthians 7 27 meaning

This verse addresses a Christian's marital status directly and exhorts them to generally remain in the state in which they find themselves. It implies that if one is married ("bound to a wife"), they should not seek divorce or separation. Conversely, if one is unmarried, whether widowed or previously divorced (understood as "loosed from a wife"), they should not actively seek marriage. This counsel is rooted in Paul's broader teaching in the chapter regarding contentment in one's calling and an eschatological urgency that de-emphasizes changes in worldly status for the sake of dedicated service to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7 27 Context

First Corinthians chapter 7 is Paul's comprehensive answer to specific questions posed by the Corinthian church concerning marriage, celibacy, divorce, and overall sexual conduct. The chapter opens with an affirmation that sexual relations within marriage are good and proper (7:1-5). Paul then introduces the concept of celibacy as a gift from God (7:6-9), alongside the general expectation for believers to remain married and not divorce (7:10-16). This verse (7:27) flows directly from Paul's broader counsel that each person should remain in the calling (κλῆσις, klēsis) in which they were found when called to Christ (7:17-24). He grounds this advice in the "present distress" (7:26) and the conviction that "the appointed time has grown very short" and "the present form of this world is passing away" (7:29-31). In this context, major changes to one's life circumstances, like marital status, are viewed as potentially unnecessary distractions from devotion to the Lord during a time of eschatological urgency. The Corinthians likely faced pressure from within their culture and potentially from within the church towards both asceticism (avoiding marriage) and libertinism (free sexual conduct), making Paul's balanced, practical, yet deeply spiritual guidance essential.

1 Corinthians 7 27 Word analysis

• Are you bound (Δέδεσαι, dedesai): This is a perfect passive indicative form of δέω (deō), meaning "to bind" or "to tie." The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with continuing results – you have been bound and remain bound. In the context of relationships, it unequivocally refers to being married or legally united. The use of the passive voice suggests that the binding occurred to you, typically referring to the establishment of the marital covenant. It signifies the permanence and legal-spiritual obligation of the marital state.
• to a wife (γυναικί, gunaiki): This is the dative case of γυνή (gunē), meaning "woman" or "wife." In this marital context, it distinctly means "wife," emphasizing the conjugal relationship. The dative case denotes the relationship of "to whom" or "for whom" one is bound.
• Do not seek (μὴ ζήτει, mē zētei): The particle μὴ (mē) denotes prohibition, translating to "do not." Ζήτει (zētei) is a present imperative form of ζητέω (zēteō), meaning "to seek," "to endeavor," or "to desire to obtain." The present imperative suggests an ongoing prohibition—"stop seeking" or "do not habitually seek." This isn't just a temporary command but a principle of attitude.
• to be loosed (λύσιν, lysin): This is the accusative form of λύσις (lysis), meaning "a loosing," "a dissolving," or "a divorce." It specifically refers to the act or state of being separated from a marital bond. This word choice underscores that Paul is addressing marital separation or divorce directly.
• Are you loosed (Λέλυσαι, lelysai): This is the perfect passive indicative of λύω (lyō), meaning "to loose," "to set free," or "to untie." Similar to "bound," the perfect tense here means you have been loosed and remain loosed. In a marital context, this refers to someone who is no longer married, having been freed from the marital bond (either by death of a spouse or by a past divorce, acknowledging these different scenarios but grouping them under "loosed" for the immediate context of non-married status).
• from a wife (ἀπὸ γυναικός, apo gunaikos): The preposition ἀπὸ (apo) means "from" or "away from," indicating separation. Γυναικός (gunaikos) is the genitive case of "wife" here, emphasizing the source of the separation.
• Do not seek (μὴ ζήτει, mē zētei): Reiterated prohibition.
• a wife (γυναῖκα, gunaika): Accusative form of "wife" here, directly referring to the object of seeking—a marital partner.

Word-groups analysis:

• Are you bound to a wife?: This rhetorical question establishes the marital status as married. It acknowledges a pre-existing state. Paul isn't instructing how to get bound but addresses those already in that state.
• Do not seek to be loosed: This directly advises against initiating divorce or separation. It's a call to faithfulness within the existing marital covenant, reflecting God's general design for marriage as indissoluble. This principle applies to those contemplating divorce for non-biblical reasons or due to spiritual superiority claims within Corinth.
• Are you loosed from a wife?: This acknowledges the state of being unmarried. This can apply to widows (whom Paul discusses elsewhere in the chapter) or to those previously divorced. Paul is less concerned with how one became "loosed" in this particular verse, but focuses on the present marital status.
• Do not seek a wife: This is advice for the unmarried. It doesn't prohibit marriage entirely (as seen in 7:9), but it discourages an active pursuit of marriage, particularly within the urgent eschatological context he outlines. It promotes contentment in singleness, enabling undistracted devotion to the Lord. This is particularly for those for whom singleness is not a burden or temptation, as 7:9 clarifies for others.

1 Corinthians 7 27 Bonus section

Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7, including verse 27, is often understood as preferential rather than prescriptive for all. He expresses a personal preference for celibacy "if possible" (1 Cor 7:7) for greater devotion, but never commands it. The concept of "present distress" (1 Cor 7:26) is critical. Scholars debate its exact meaning: was it persecution, famine, or the general tension of living in the "already but not yet" of God's kingdom? Regardless, it signals a period where stability and undivided attention to the Lord's work were paramount. Therefore, making significant life changes like marriage or divorce, which bring worldly concerns and divisions of devotion (1 Cor 7:32-34), should generally be avoided if one is content in their current state. This counsel offers a sense of stability in an unstable world, encouraging believers to anchor themselves in their divine calling rather than being swayed by societal pressures or personal whims regarding their relational status. It implies that true Christian freedom means finding joy and purpose in whatever state one is in, recognizing it as God-given, and serving Him effectively within that framework.

1 Corinthians 7 27 Commentary

In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul presents clear, concise instructions for Christians regarding their marital status, framing them within a broader theology of contentment, divine calling, and eschatological urgency. His counsel is essentially: "Stay as you are." If married, one should not pursue divorce, reinforcing the sanctity and permanence of the marital bond instituted by God (e.g., Matt 19:6). If unmarried (whether through widowhood or a valid previous separation/divorce within Pauline guidelines like 7:15), one should not actively seek marriage. This instruction isn't an absolute prohibition on divorce or remarriage in all circumstances, as Paul offers caveats elsewhere in the chapter (e.g., desertion by an unbeliever, 1 Cor 7:15; or the command to marry if unable to control passions, 1 Cor 7:9). Instead, this specific verse serves as a general guiding principle: due to the shortness of the time and the passing nature of this world, Christians should minimize unnecessary life changes, particularly those that might distract from fervent devotion to the Lord (1 Cor 7:32-35). The underlying theme is spiritual contentment in one's current state and prioritizing the kingdom of God over earthly relational pursuits or anxieties. This encourages believers to be spiritually available and undivided in their service, making the best use of their current situation for the Lord's glory.