1 Corinthians 7
English Standard Version
Principles for Marriage
7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: (A)“It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 (B)The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 (C)Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, (D)so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 Now as a concession, (E)not a command, I say this.[a] 7 (F)I wish that all were (G)as I myself am. But (H)each has his own gift from God, (I)one of one kind and one of another.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that (J)it is good for them to remain single, (K)as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, (L)they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married (M)I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): (N)the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, (O)she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and (P)the husband should not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. (Q)Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you[b] (R)to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, (S)whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17 Only let each person lead the life[c] (T)that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. (U)This is my rule in (V)all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? (W)Let him not seek circumcision. 19 (X)For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but (Y)keeping the commandments of God. 20 (Z)Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant[d] when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is (AA)a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is (AB)a bondservant of Christ. 23 (AC)You were bought with a price; (AD)do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers,[e] (AE)in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
The Unmarried and the Widowed
25 Now concerning[f] the betrothed,[g] (AF)I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as (AG)one who by the Lord's mercy is (AH)trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present[h] distress (AI)it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman[i] marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: (AJ)the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy (AK)as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For (AL)the present form of this world is passing away.
32 I want you to be (AM)free from anxieties. (AN)The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 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. 35 I say this for your own benefit, (AO)not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,[j] if his[k] passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed (AP)does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
39 (AQ)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 (AR)in the Lord. 40 Yet (AS)in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think (AT)that I too have the Spirit of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 7:6 Or I say this:
- 1 Corinthians 7:15 Some manuscripts us
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 Or each person walk in the way
- 1 Corinthians 7:21 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verses 22 (twice), 23
- 1 Corinthians 7:24 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29
- 1 Corinthians 7:25 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
- 1 Corinthians 7:25 Greek virgins
- 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or impending
- 1 Corinthians 7:28 Greek virgin; also verse 34
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Greek virgin; also verses 37, 38
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or her
Kehillah in Corinth I 7
Orthodox Jewish Bible
7 Now, concerning the things in your iggeret, let’s take up the next inyan (topic): “it is beneficial for a man not to touch an isha” [i.e., postpone the chasunoh (wedding)].
2 But, because of the acts of zenut, let each Ben Adam have his own Isha, and let each Isha have her own Ba’al (Husband).
3 Let the ba’al render the conjugal choiv (debt) to his isha, and likewise also the isha to her ba’al (husband).
4 It is not the isha who has samchut (authority) over her own body, but the ba’al (husband); likewise, also it is not the ba’al (husband) who has samchut over his own body, but the isha.
5 Do not deprive each other, unless by agreement for a set time, that you may renew zerizut (diligence) to tefillah (prayer) and again you may be together, lest Hasatan lead you into nissayon (temptation) because of your lack of shlitah atzmi (self-control). [SHEMOT 19:15; SHMUEL ALEF 21:4,5]
6 But I say this according to concession (T.N. in view of 5:1-5; 6:12-20), not according to [Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s] mitzvoh.
7 But, I wish kol Bnei Adam even to be as I am; however, [this is impossible since] each has his own matanah (gift) from Hashem: one this; and another that.
8 But, I say to the bochrim and the almanot (widows), it is beneficial for them if they remain as I am;
9 But if they do not have shlitah atzmi, let them marry. For better it is to marry than with Eish to be set ablaze.
10 But to the ones having entered bibrit hanissuim (in covenant of marriage), I charge, not I but Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu, an isha is not to separate from her ba’al (husband). [Mal 2:14-16]
11 But, if indeed she is separated, let her remain so, or be reconciled to her basherter; and a ba’al should not leave his isha.
12 But, to the rest I‖Sha’ul‖not Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu, say: if any Ach b’Moshiach has an isha who is an Apikoros and she is willing to live with him, let him not leave her;
13 And if an isha has a ba’al (husband) who is an Apikoros, and he is willing to dwell with her, let her not leave her ba’al (husband).
14 For, [T.N. following the principle of bikkurim], the ba’al who is an Apikoros is mekudash b’Ruach Hakodesh (set apart as holy in the Ruach Hakodesh) by the isha, and the isha who is an Apikoros likewise by the Ach b’Moshiach; otherwise, your yeladim are tema’im (unclean); but now they are tehorim (clean). [MALACHI 2:15]
15 But, if the one who is an Apikoros separates and departs, let the separation occur; the Ach b’Moshiach has not been enslaved, or the Achot b’Moshiach in such cases; but Hashem has given you a kri’ah b’shalom.
16 For how do you know, isha, if you will not bring your basherter (destined mate), your ba’al, to Yeshu’at Eloheinu?
17 Only each of you walk the derech [T.N. according to Hashem’s tochnit or etzah Ro 8:28] to which you were called by Hashem (TEHILLIM 1:6). This is my charge in all the kehillot of Moshiach.
18 If as a ben Berit with bris milah anyone received their kri’ah, let him not conceal it; if anyone without bris milah has been called, let him without bris milah not undergo bris milah.
19 Bris milah is not everything; nor is the lack of it; but being shomer mitzvot Hashem.
20 Each one walk the derech of his kri’ah (calling, summons), and remain there.
21 If while a bond servant you were called, do not let it consume you, although if you can gain your deror ("freedom, liberty" VAYIKRA 25:10), do so.
22 For, the one in Hashem having been called while a bond servant is [Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach] Adoneinu’s ben Chorin (freedman); likewise, the one having been called while a ben Chorin is the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s bond servant.
23 You were bought with a pidyon nefesh price; do not become avadim haBnei Adam.
24 Each one wherever on the derech of Chayyim he was called, Achim b’Moshiach, there let him remain in deveykus with Hashem.
25 Next sugya (topic): concerning the betulot (virgins). A mitzvoh of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu I do not have, but a bit of wisdom I offer as one who by the rachamim Hashem is ne’eman (faithful).
26 I consider therefore, it to be beneficial, because of the impending Crisis (T.N. i.e., the Chevlei Moshiach and eschatological woes preceding the Bias Moshiach) that you remain as you are.
27 Have you entered bibrit hanissuim (in covenant of marriage) with an isha? Do not seek to be free. Are you freed from an isha? Do not seek an isha.
28 But if indeed you enter bibrit hanissuim (in covenant of marriage), there is no chet; and if the betulah (virgin) marries, there is no averah in that for her. But such will have tzoros in the basar, which I am trying to spare you (Mt.24:19).
29 Now this I say, Achim b’Moshiach, the time [until HaKetz] has been shortened. From now on, let those having nashim live as if not having nashim,
30 And let the ones weeping as not weeping, and let the ones having simcha as not having simcha, and let the ones buying as not possessing,
31 And let the ones using the Olam Hazeh as not fully using it, for the present form of the Olam Hazeh is passing away.
32 But I would have you free from atzvat lev (heartache). The ben Adam without isha cares for the things of Hashem, how he may please Hashem.
33 But the one having taken an isha cares for the things of the Olam Hazeh, how he may please his isha,
34 And he has been divided (1:13). Both the isha free of a ba’al or the betulah cares for the things of Hashem, that she may be tehorah spiritually and physically. But the isha with a ba’al cares for the things of the Olam Hazeh, how she may please her ba’al.
35 Now, this I say for your own benefit, not that I may throw a noose on your deror (“freedom” VAYIKRA 25:10), but I speak with respect to what is decent, seemly, and sits well with Hashem, without distraction [in avodas kodesh]. [TEHILLIM 86:11]
36 However, if anyone thnks he does not have proper hitnahagut (conduct) toward the betulah of his eirusin (betrothal, engagement), and if he thinks his basherte (destined mate) is getting along in years, and thus it has to be, what he desires, let him do; there is no chet, let them enter bibrit hanissuim (in convenant of marriage).
37 But he who in his lev has settled the decision, not having the need [of conjugal intimacy], but having mastery concerning his own desire, and thus he in his lev has decided, not to enter bibrit hanissuim with his betulah (virgin), he does well.
38 So then both the one entering bibrit hanissuim with his betulah does well, and the one not entering bebrit hanissuim with his arusah (betrothed) will do better (7:34).
39 An isha has been bound (bibrit hanissuim, in covenant of marriage) for so long a time as her ba’al lives, but if her ba’al should sleep the sleep of the mesim, she is free to enter bibrit hanissuim with the ba’al she desires, but only in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu.
40 However, happy is she, and even more so, if she remains as she is; and I think in this bit of wisdom I am offering that I have the Ruach Hakodesh.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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