1 Corinthians 7:3 kjv
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3 nkjv
Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3 niv
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3 esv
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3 nlt
The husband should fulfill his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband's needs.
1 Corinthians 7 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 7:4 | The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. | Reciprocity in marital rights |
| Gen 2:24 | A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife. | Unity and shared life in marriage |
| Matt 19:5 | "...and the two will become one flesh." | Marriage as becoming one unit |
| Eph 5:22-33 | Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord... Husbands, love your wives. | Mutual responsibilities in marriage |
| 1 Pet 3:7 | Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way... | Respect and consideration in marriage |
| 1 Pet 3:1 | To the wives, likewise, be subject to your own husbands... | Order within the marital relationship |
| Mal 2:14-15 | You say, "Why is that?" It is because the LORD was witness between you... | God as witness to marital covenant |
| Song of Sol 7:10 | I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. | Mutual possession and affection |
| Prov 5:15-19 | Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. | Fidelity and exclusivity in marriage |
| Ex 21:10 | If he takes another wife, he may not diminish the food, clothing, or marital rights of the first wife. | Marital rights and obligations |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be honored among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled... | Holiness and honor of marriage |
| Deut 24:5 | When a man takes a wife, he shall not go out in the army... | Considerations for newly married men |
| Josh 24:22 | You yourselves will be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD. | Commitment and shared purpose |
| Eph 5:28-29 | In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. | Husband's responsibility to nourish his wife |
| 1 Thes 4:3-5 | For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor... | Sexual purity and self-control within marriage |
| Gen 1:27-28 | So God created man in his own image... And God blessed them. | Partnership and procreation as a blessing |
| 1 Cor 6:18-20 | Flee from sexual immorality... you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. | Body belonging to God through Christ |
| Ps 127:3 | Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD... | Children as a blessing of marriage |
| 1 Cor 7:2 | But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. | Marriage as a remedy for temptation |
| Mark 10:8-9 | and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. | The union of marriage |
1 Corinthians 7 verses
1 Corinthians 7 3 Meaning
The verse emphasizes the mutual responsibility of marital intimacy within a marriage. It states that a wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. Conversely, a husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does. This signifies that marital union establishes a shared ownership and stewardship of each partner's physical person for the purposes of their shared life.
1 Corinthians 7 3 Context
This verse is found within Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians chapter 7 regarding marriage and singleness. The Corinthian church had questions about these matters, likely influenced by their surrounding culture, which sometimes had philosophical views that denigrated marriage and the physical body. Paul is addressing these issues, seeking to provide godly guidance for believers. Specifically, this verse addresses the aspect of sexual intimacy and the shared life within a marriage. Paul is likely also responding to potential over-spiritualization that might have led some to neglect their marital duties or rights. The principle here underpins the idea that once married, a person's body is not solely their own but is joined with their spouse.
1 Corinthians 7 3 Word Analysis
- Eneka (ἐνεκα): This preposition typically means "because of," "for the sake of," or "on account of." It highlights the reason or basis for what follows.
- Sumplēmptē (συμπλήμπτης): This word means "a woman is subject to her husband" or "has authority over." The specific nuance here relates to having power or dominion.
- Idiou somatos (ἰδίου σώματος): "Own body." This signifies personal possession and individual bodily autonomy.
- Al·l’ ho anēr (ἀλλ’ ὁ ἀνήρ): "But the husband." This introduces the contrasting reality of the husband's relationship to his wife's body.
- Autos (αὐτός): "He himself," used here reflexively for emphasis, "he himself has authority."
- Para tes gynaikos (παρὰ τῆς γυναικός): "From the wife" or "on the part of the wife." This clarifies where the authority over the husband's body resides.
Word Group Analysis:
- “idίου somatos” to “para tes gynaikos”: The phrase establishes a clear reciprocal principle within marriage concerning bodily rights and claims. It’s not that individuals lose all personal autonomy, but rather that within the marital covenant, these rights are jointly shared and committed to one another for the purpose of marital unity and fulfillment.
1 Corinthians 7 3 Bonus Section
The concept of "one flesh" (Gen 2:24, Matt 19:6) is a profound biblical metaphor for marital union, extending beyond the physical to encompass a spiritual and emotional oneness. Paul applies this to the physical aspect of marital intimacy, asserting that this oneness implies a shared dominion over their bodies for the purpose of their shared life. This contrasts with contemporary Corinthian philosophies that might have sought liberation from physical or marital bonds. The "authority" mentioned is not a domineering control but a rightful claim and privilege established by the covenant of marriage, intended for mutual fulfillment and the avoidance of sin. It also highlights that this belongs uniquely to the marriage bond, making sexual intimacy outside of it a violation of that shared belonging.
1 Corinthians 7 3 Commentary
Paul provides a foundational principle for Christian marriage: mutual bodily commitment. This means that within marriage, each spouse has a claim and responsibility towards the other's body, specifically concerning sexual intimacy and companionship. This isn't about ownership in a possessive sense, but a consecrated belonging to one another in Christ for the purposes of mutual support, procreation, and the prevention of sexual sin. This shared responsibility honors God's design for marriage, where two become one flesh, uniting their lives and bodies. It underscores that intimacy is not optional but a shared marital right and duty, meant to foster intimacy and unity, while guarding against temptation. This mutual submission and belonging is a reflection of Christ's love for the Church.
Practical Usage:
- Husbands and wives should prioritize each other's needs for physical intimacy.
- Denying conjugal rights without just cause can be harmful to the marriage.
- This principle encourages open communication about sexual needs and desires within marriage.
- It serves as a boundary against extramarital sexual activity, as the marital covenant creates a unique shared claim.