1 Corinthians 7:34 kjv
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:34 nkjv
There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world?how she may please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:34 niv
and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world?how she can please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:34 esv
and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:34 nlt
His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 7:32 | He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord... | Immediate context |
| Matt 6:24 | No one can serve two masters... | Principle of divided loyalty |
| Josh 24:15 | Choose this day whom you will serve... | Call to singular devotion |
| Psa 27:4 | One thing have I desired of the LORD... | Desire for God's presence |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | To obey is better than sacrifice... | Importance of obedience |
| Eph 5:22-24 | Wives, submit to your own husbands... | Comparison of marital duty |
| Rom 7:2-3 | For the married woman is bound by law to her husband... | Marital ties and obligations |
| Heb 12:28 | Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably... | Grateful service |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ... | Counting all things loss for Christ |
| John 15:16 | ...that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. | Focused prayer |
| Luke 10:38-42 | But one thing is needful... Mary... hath chosen that good part... | Contrasting priorities |
| Gal 6:10 | ...as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men... | Balanced approach |
| Titus 2:4-5 | ...that they may teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, good keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. | Instructions for wives |
| 1 Tim 5:4-5 | But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety toward their own family... But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith... | Household responsibilities |
| Eph 6:1-4 | Children, obey your parents in the Lord... Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath... | Responsibilities to family |
| 1 Cor 7:8 | I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. | Paul's counsel to singles/widows |
| 1 Cor 9:24-27 | ...run in such wise that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly... | Discipline in Christian life |
| 2 Tim 2:3-4 | Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life... | Avoidance of worldly entanglements |
| Col 1:9-10 | ...that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing... | Pleasing God above all |
| 1 Thes 4:11-12 | And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands... that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without... | Living peaceably and honorably |
1 Corinthians 7 verses
1 Corinthians 7 34 Meaning
This verse speaks to the focused devotion a Christian woman can have towards the Lord when she is unmarried. It contrasts this single state with that of a married woman, who must divide her attention between serving her husband and serving the Lord. The core idea is undivided devotion to God.
1 Corinthians 7 34 Context
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Paul is addressing various questions the Corinthian church had regarding marriage, singleness, divorce, and other marital issues. He emphasizes the sanctity of marriage but also presents singleness as a preferable state for some, specifically in view of the current distress (v. 26). This verse continues the argument presented in the preceding verses, distinguishing the lifestyle and priorities of an unmarried person from that of a married person in the context of their devotion to God.
1 Corinthians 7 34 Word Analysis
- gunaike"): Greek word for "woman" or "wife." It refers to a female person.
- apolysin"): Greek word for "release," "freedom," or "liberty." It suggests being free from certain ties or obligations.
- ek": Greek preposition meaning "from" or "out of."
- merimnōn"): Greek word for "cares," "anxieties," or "concerns." It refers to worldly worries or distractions.
- eu"): Greek adverb meaning "well" or "good."
- aresai"): Greek verb meaning "to please."
- kuriw"): Greek word for "Lord," referring to Jesus Christ in this context.
- en": Greek preposition meaning "in," "on," or "at."
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "apolosyn apo merimnōn": This phrase "release from anxieties/cares" highlights the freedom from the specific pressures and divided attentions that marriage can bring, especially in difficult times. It's about being freed from certain hindrances to undivided service.
- "eu aresai tw kuriw": This phrase "to please the Lord well" underscores the ultimate goal of this freedom – an elevated and focused devotion. The implication is that while married individuals can and should please the Lord, the unmarried state offers fewer external demands on their time and affection, allowing for more concentrated effort towards pleasing God.
1 Corinthians 7 34 Bonus Section
The concept of being "free from anxieties" (apolysin apo merimnōn) should not be misinterpreted as a call to detachment from all responsibilities. Rather, it refers to freedom from the particular, often pressing, anxieties and divided loyalties that can arise within a marital relationship. For example, providing for one's spouse and family, resolving marital disputes, or navigating familial obligations can understandably divide a person's attention and emotional energy, potentially detracting from direct service to the Lord. This passage echoes the idea presented in Matthew 6:24 about not being able to serve two masters, applying the principle to the choice between focused service to God and the relational demands of marriage. It emphasizes a holistic devotion that prioritizes spiritual pursuits, particularly in a context Paul deemed to have "present distress" (1 Cor 7:26).
1 Corinthians 7 34 Commentary
Paul clarifies that the advantage of being unmarried is not in avoiding commitment, but in avoiding specific worldly concerns that can distract from a singular focus on pleasing God. This isn't to denigrate marriage, but to highlight a practical benefit of singleness for those who feel called or are suited to it, allowing for a more undistracted devotional life. The ultimate aim is always to please the Lord, and Paul acknowledges that circumstances (like potential marital strife or difficulty) can make this focus easier in the unmarried state. It’s a strategic counsel for maximizing devotion.