1 Corinthians 7:39 kjv
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:39 nkjv
A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:39 niv
A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:39 esv
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:39 nlt
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 5:32 | Whoever divorces his wife and remarries another commits adultery. | Prohibition of remarriage after divorce. |
| Matt 19:9 | I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery. | Exception for immorality, emphasizing marriage sanctity. |
| Mark 10:11-12 | He said to them, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." | Parallel teaching on adultery and divorce. |
| Luke 16:18 | Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. | Similar teaching on divorce and remarriage. |
| Romans 7:2-3 | For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. | Explicit parallel on marital bond and release by death. |
| 1 Cor 7:8 | To the unmarried and to widows I say that it is good for them to remain as I am. | Recommendation for the unmarried and widows. |
| 1 Cor 7:9 | But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. | Better to marry than to be consumed by desire. |
| 1 Cor 7:10-11 | To the married, I give this command, not I, but the Lord: The wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does separate, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And the husband must not divorce his wife. | Instruction regarding separation and reconciliation. |
| Gal 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love. | Importance of faith and love within the Christian community. |
| Eph 5:33 | However, each one of you also must love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. | Mutual love and respect within marriage. |
| 1 Tim 4:3 | They forbid marriage and command abstaining from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. | Against those who forbid marriage. |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. | Marriage to be honored; God judges immorality. |
| Prov 31:30 | Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. | Praising a God-fearing woman. |
| Song of Solomon 4:7 | You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. | Declaration of beauty within marriage. |
| Jer 3:1 | "If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's, will he return to her? Will not that land be greatly polluted? | Warning against divorce and remarriage due to land's pollution. |
| Deut 24:1-4 | When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that he finds some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house... | Law concerning certificates of divorce. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. | Body as a temple, glorifying God. |
| Acts 15:9 | and he made no distinction between us and them, when he cleansed their hearts by faith. | No distinction among believers. |
| 1 Cor 7:39 | She is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. | Summary of the verse itself. |
| 1 Cor 9:21 | To those outside the law I became as one outside the law—not being outside God's law but under Christ's law—that I might win those outside the law. | Adapting to win others to Christ. |
1 Corinthians 7 verses
1 Corinthians 7 39 Meaning
This verse declares that a wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives. However, if the husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7 39 Context
1 Corinthians 7 discusses marriage and singleness within the early Christian community in Corinth. Paul addresses questions and issues arising from different marital states. In the preceding verses, he has spoken about the relationship between husband and wife, emphasizing the marital bond and the rules against divorce. Verse 39 provides a concluding principle regarding remarriage for widows, tying it back to the broader context of marital and spiritual fidelity. The Corinthian church was likely facing societal pressures and perhaps differing theological opinions regarding marriage and its obligations, which Paul addresses from a biblical perspective rooted in Jewish tradition and Christian teaching.
1 Corinthians 7 39 Word Analysis
- She (αὐτὴ - autē): Refers back to the woman who was formerly married and whose husband has died.
- is (）（esti): Third-person singular present indicative of the verb "to be."
- free (}^{}(³¿)£ë - eluthéra): Feminine singular nominative form of eléutheros. This means released, at liberty, free from the bond of a former husband. It signifies a restored legal and social autonomy in relation to marriage.
- to be married ( ¹}½«' }¹µ¤' - ginesthai gynaika): Literally "to become a woman" or "to be married." It implies the act or state of entering into a new marriage covenant.
- to whom ( ¹ µ )' - ha ëthelei): "Whom" (relative pronoun) and "she wishes/desires" (verb). This indicates her agency and choice in selecting a new spouse.
- only (¶ )¼‘ ¹·³ )} ) - monon en kurio): "Only," "solely," or "alone." This adverb restricts the freedom to marry.
- in the Lord ( ¹}´ ³ )' ) - en kuriō): This is a crucial qualifying phrase. It signifies that the new marriage must be in agreement with God's will and within the community of believers. This implies marrying another Christian who is also united with the Lord. It's about spiritual compatibility and shared faith.
Group of words analysis:
- "free to be married to whom she wishes": This phrase underscores the liberation from the previous marital bond upon the husband's death. It affirms the woman's right to choose a new partner.
- "only in the Lord": This is the paramount condition. It means the marriage must be conducted and centered on Christ, with both individuals being believers, united in faith and committed to godly living together. This reflects the New Testament emphasis on believers marrying other believers to maintain spiritual unity and to build families founded on Christ.
1 Corinthians 7 39 Bonus Section
The phrase "in the Lord" is a recurring motif in Paul's letters and reflects the distinct identity and life of the early Christian community. It speaks to a life lived in union with Christ and within the community of believers. Marrying "in the Lord" implies marrying someone who shares the same spiritual realities and commitments. This concept is tied to the New Testament teaching that believers are a new creation in Christ and are to live out their lives accordingly. It promotes the idea that marriage for Christians is not just a social or legal contract, but a covenant blessed and governed by their relationship with Christ. The ultimate aim is to honor God in all aspects of life, including the formation of a new family unit.
1 Corinthians 7 39 Commentary
This verse clarifies a significant aspect of Christian marital law for widows. Upon the death of her husband, a woman is legally released from her marriage vows. This freedom allows her to remarry. However, this liberty is not absolute; it is conditionally bound by the directive to marry "only in the Lord." This instruction emphasizes the importance of a shared faith in Jesus Christ as the foundation for a new marriage. It suggests that believers should not marry outside of the Christian community, as this can lead to spiritual division and hinder a shared walk with God. The marriage should be characterized by mutual commitment to Christ and his teachings, reflecting the covenant relationship of believers to the Lord.
- A widow is free from her former husband's bond.
- She can remarry if she chooses.
- The choice of a new husband must be limited to a fellow believer ("in the Lord").
- This ensures spiritual unity and mutual encouragement in faith within the marriage.