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

The verse instructs that if a man is already married, he should not seek a divorce. The emphasis is on maintaining existing marital bonds, rather than seeking new ones or being free from current obligations. It suggests a stable commitment within marriage is the intended path.

1 Corinthians 7 27 Context

First Corinthians chapter 7 addresses various questions posed by the Corinthian church regarding marriage, singleness, and the conduct of believers in relationships, particularly in light of their impending persecution and the "present distress" (1 Cor 7:26). Paul's counsel aims to promote practical holiness and stability. Verse 27 specifically tackles the issue of whether one is obligated to remain married if they are already joined in matrimony. Paul advises against seeking divorce, even if one has the liberty to marry another, emphasizing commitment to one's current spouse.

1 Corinthians 7 27 Word Analysis

• εἰ (ei): "if." A conditional particle introducing a hypothesis.

• λύῃ (lyō): "you are loosed" or "you are released." This refers to being unbound from the legal and social obligations of marriage. It suggests a state of freedom, possibly from existing marital ties.

• γυναικός ( gunaikos ): "a woman" or "a wife." Refers to a female spouse.

• συζυγῇ ( suzugē ): "you are yoked" or "you are joined together." This emphasizes the union and connection within marriage, drawing on imagery of yoked animals working together.

• ζήτει ( zētei ): "seek." Imperative verb commanding an action. The context implies seeking freedom from the marital bond.

• λύσῃ ( lysē ): "you should loose" or "you should divorce." The aorist subjunctive verb indicates a desired or permissible action in the future.

• Language and Grammar: The use of the subjunctive mood after "if" sets up a hypothetical situation: if a person is already in the state of being unmarried or loosed from a wife. The negative imperative "seek not to divorce" directly prohibits the act of dissolving the marriage bond.

• Word Group Analysis:

  • "you are loosed from a wife" ( λύῃ γυναικός - lyō gunaikos ): This phrase suggests a prior dissolution of marriage. However, the main thrust of the verse is for those currently yoked, implying the hypothetical condition ("if you are loosed") might refer to a status some falsely claim or are tempted to seek. Or it might be contrasted with the following statement: "do not seek to be joined to a wife," creating a contrast: if you are already free, don't go seek another marriage if you are unmarried; and if you are married, don't seek to divorce. However, the typical interpretation is: if you are already bound, don't seek to loosen yourself by divorce. A more direct reading links "loose from a wife" to one who is already divorced or widowed, in which case the advice "seek not to be joined" would follow (similar to v. 28). But the Greek structure links the seeking to loosen with the wife. A more widely accepted reading is that if you are bound to a wife, do not seek to loose yourself (divorce).
  • "seek not to be joined to a wife" ( ζήτει λύσῃ γυναικός - zētei lyō gunaikos ): This appears to be a grammatical misinterpretation. The text is "ζητεῖν ἑαυτὸν λῦσαι ἀπὸ γυναικός" (zētein heauton lysai apo gunaikos), meaning "to seek to loose himself from a wife." The prohibitive imperative applies to this seeking to dissolve the union.

1 Corinthians 7 27 Bonus Section

The Corinthian church was a complex social environment with various philosophical influences that could have impacted their understanding of marriage. Some may have held ascetic views, deeming marriage a lesser state, while others, influenced by the "present distress," might have seen it as an impediment to spiritual focus or personal safety. Paul's directive in 1 Corinthians 7:27 serves to anchor believers in the divine ordinance of marriage, promoting stability and faithfulness rather than freedom that leads to sexual immorality or broken commitments. This commitment is to be rooted in Christ, echoing His unwavering love for the church.

1 Corinthians 7 27 Commentary

Paul reiterates the sanctity and binding nature of marriage. Even if a believer finds themselves in a marriage with a non-believer, or if circumstances tempt them to seek a dissolution, the guiding principle is commitment. The emphasis is not on the ease of obtaining a divorce but on the impermissibility of seeking one when already married. This counters any Corinthian tendencies towards expediency or sexual permissiveness. The desire to be loosed is implicitly tied to the "present distress" (v. 26), suggesting some may wish to shed marital responsibilities to gain greater freedom or avoid hardship. Paul’s command is for perseverance in the marital covenant.