1 Corinthians 7:39 BSB

1 Corinthians 7:39

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

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.

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Commentary

2 voices

Tertullian

To His Wife Book II (220)

But in as far as marrying "in the Lord" is permissible, as being within our power, so far more culpable is it not to observe that which you can observe. Add to this the fact that the apostle, with regard to widows and the unmarried, advises them to remain permanently in that state, when he says, "But I desire all to persevere in (imitation of) my example: " but touching marrying "in the Lord," he no longer advises, but plainly bids.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth,.... That is, she is bound to her husband, by the law of marriage, during his life; nor can the bond of marriage between them be dissolved but by the death of one of them, except in the cases of adultery, and wilful desertion, see Rom 7:

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

The wife is bound ... - ; see the notes at Rom 7:2. Only in the Lord - That is, only to one who is a Christian; with a proper sense of her obligations to Christ, and so as to promote his glory. The apostle supposed that could not be done if she were allowed to marry a pagan, or one of a different religion. The same sentiment he advances in 2Co 6:14, and it was his intention, undoubtedly, to affirm that it was proper for a widow to marry no one who was not a Christian.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

22 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Γυνὴ	Gunē	A wife	G1135 →
δέδεται	dedetai	has been bound	G1210 →
ἐφ᾽	eph᾽	for	G1909 →
ὅσον	hoson	as long as	G3745 →
χρόνον	chronon	time	G5550 →
ζῇ	zēa	may live	G2198 →
ὁ	ho	the	G3588 →
ἀνὴρ	anēr	husband	G435 →
αὐτῆς·	autēs	of her;	G846 →
ἐὰν	ean	if	G1437 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
κοιμηθῇ	koimēthēa	shall have died	G2837 →
ὁ	ho	the	G3588 →
ἀνήρ	anēr	husband	G435 →
ἐλευθέρα	eleuthera	free	G1658 →
ἐστὶν	estin	she is	G1510 →
ᾧ	hō	to whom	G3739 →
θέλει	thelei	she wills	G2309 →
γαμηθῆναι,	gamēthēnai	to be married,	G1060 →
μόνον	monon	only	G3441 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
κυρίῳ.	kuriō	[the] Lord.	G2962 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Malachi 2:11
Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 6:14–18
  Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Through
1 Corinthians 7:10
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
leads to
- Matthew 5:32
  But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
- Luke 16:18
  Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
- Malachi 2:14–16
  Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your…
- Matthew 19:3–9
  Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
- Mark 10:11–12
  So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
Through
1 Corinthians 7:15
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
leads to
- Romans 14:19
  So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
- James 3:17–18
  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

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About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 7 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Corinthians 7 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 1 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 1 Corinthians