1 Corinthians 7 3

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 verses

1 Corinthians 7 3 meaning

The verse commands that both the husband and the wife are reciprocally obligated to fulfill each other's marital needs, particularly regarding sexual intimacy. This "due benevolence" is not optional but a fundamental duty within the marital covenant, intended to maintain purity, foster unity, and provide mutual satisfaction in accordance with God's design. It establishes an equality of expectation and responsibility in the conjugal relationship.

1 Corinthians 7 3 Context

First Corinthians chapter 7 forms part of Paul's comprehensive answers to specific questions raised by the Corinthian believers, particularly concerning marriage and celibacy (1 Cor 7:1). In a diverse and often sexually immoral society, the Corinthians wrestled with conflicting views: some favored asceticism, potentially advocating abstinence even within marriage for perceived spiritual piety; others may have embraced a libertine attitude toward sexuality. Paul responds to these extremes by affirming the sanctity and necessity of sexual intimacy within marriage as a God-given institution. Building on the preceding verse (1 Cor 7:2), which states that marriage prevents sexual immorality, verse 3 outlines the positive, mutual duty of spouses to provide each other with sexual satisfaction, thereby serving as a deterrent against temptation and fulfilling a core aspect of their covenant. This sets the stage for the following verses, which explicitly state mutual authority over each other's bodies (v.4) and the warning against prolonged, non-consensual deprivation (v.5).

1 Corinthians 7 3 Word analysis

• Let the husband render (ὁ ἀνὴρ ... ἀποδιδότω, ho anēr... apodidotō):
  • ἀνὴρ (anēr): While it can mean "man," in this marital context, it distinctly refers to the "husband."
  • ἀποδιδότω (apodidotō): This is a present imperative, a command meaning "let him give back," "pay," or "render." It signifies an ongoing, required action. The use of "render" implies fulfilling an existing obligation or debt, rather than bestowing a gift. It points to an expected duty within the marital covenant.
• unto the wife (τῇ γυναικὶ, tē gunaikī):
  • γυναικὶ (gunaikī): Similarly, though it can mean "woman," here it refers specifically to the "wife," indicating the recipient of the husband's duty.
• due benevolence (τὴν ὀφειλομένην εὔνοιαν, tēn opheilomenēn eunoian):
  • ὀφειλομένην (opheilomenēn): This word means "owed," "due," or "obligated." It's a perfect passive participle, emphasizing that this is something that is due and remains due. It underscores the mandatory, debt-like aspect of the marital commitment regarding physical intimacy.
  • εὔνοιαν (eunoian): Often translated as "benevolence," "goodwill," or "affection." In the context of marital "rendering" something "due," particularly between husband and wife concerning their physical relationship, this term specifically refers to conjugal rights and duties – the sexual expression of goodwill. It implies that the act should be done with affection and positive intent, not just mechanically. Some ancient manuscripts and church fathers have ὀφειλὴν (opheilēn), meaning "debt" (as in "conjugal debt"), which even more directly aligns with the idea of a physical obligation and with verse 4's concept of mutual authority over the body. Both terms convey the same essential meaning in this context.
• and likewise also (ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ, homoiōs de kai):
  • ὁμοίως (homoiōs): An adverb meaning "likewise" or "similarly." This word is crucial as it emphasizes complete reciprocity and equality. The duty and rights are identical for both husband and wife.
• the wife unto the husband (ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί, hē gynē tō andrī):
  • This phrase mirrors the first part of the verse, reiterating that the obligation is perfectly symmetrical. What is required of one spouse is equally required of the other. This was a significantly egalitarian stance for its time.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband." This statement, with its inherent chiastic (A-B, B-A) structure in thought, powerfully communicates the radical mutuality Paul advocates. The responsibility and right to sexual intimacy within marriage are shared equally. This challenges any societal norms that might place one spouse's needs or demands above the other's, affirming a divine pattern of reciprocal giving. The concept of "due benevolence" is paramount – it implies that affection, consideration, and the willing fulfillment of the spouse's sexual needs are not optional, but an integral and obligatory aspect of a godly marriage, promoting deep relational harmony and protection from external temptations.

1 Corinthians 7 3 Bonus section

• Paul's emphasis on mutuality ("and likewise also") was revolutionary, challenging the patriarchal norms of the Greco-Roman world, which often gave husbands significantly more rights and power, including sexual, over their wives. Here, he elevates the wife's standing, affirming her equal right to respect, satisfaction, and agency within the marital bed.
• This verse stands as a bulwark against both a dismissive view of physical intimacy in marriage and a selfish, demanding approach. It insists on respectful, reciprocal fulfillment of sexual needs, treating the marital act as a loving exchange rather than a mere obligation or indulgence.
• The phrase "due benevolence" or "debt" (depending on the Greek text) indicates that sexual intimacy within marriage is not just a permissive activity but a commanded act of loving service. It's a fundamental part of the covenant established when "two become one flesh."
• Early Christian thought wrestled with ascetic tendencies, influenced by Greek dualism, which often devalued the physical. Paul’s clear directive here underscores that marital intimacy is not impure but divinely ordained and blessed. It sanctifies the physical expression of love within its proper bounds.

1 Corinthians 7 3 Commentary

1 Corinthians 7:3 delivers a concise yet profound mandate for marital intimacy, directly countering misunderstandings of purity or spiritual asceticism that might lead to abstaining from physical relations within marriage. Paul unequivocally declares that mutual conjugal duty is an obligation, not a choice. This "due benevolence," referring to affectionate sexual intimacy, is to be given and received equally by both husband and wife. The passage underlines that marriage is a safeguard against immorality (v.2) and part of this protection comes from the intentional and regular satisfaction of each other's physical needs. This command underscores the self-giving nature of marital love, where each spouse prioritizes the other's needs, recognizing that in marriage, bodies are no longer solely individual property but shared with the spouse (v.4). It encourages active participation in maintaining marital unity and honor, viewing intimate connection as both a gift and a sacred responsibility given by God. Practically, this calls for open communication, sensitivity to one another's desires, and intentional time to nurture physical intimacy, shielding the marriage from external temptations and fostering a robust covenant.