1 Corinthians 7
New King James Version
Principles of Marriage
7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:
(A)It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 (B)Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 (C)Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that (D)Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, (E)not as a commandment. 7 For (F)I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: (G)It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but (H)if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Keep Your Marriage Vows
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the (I)Lord: (J)A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise (K)your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us (L)to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will (M)save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And (N)so I [a]ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? (O)Let him not be circumcised. 19 (P)Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but (Q)keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is (R)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is (S)Christ’s slave. 23 (T)You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with (U)God in that state in which he was called.
To the Unmarried and Widows
25 Now concerning virgins: (V)I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one (W)whom the Lord in His mercy has made (X)trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—(Y)that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.
29 But (Z)this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not (AA)misusing it. For (AB)the form of this world is passing away.
32 But I want you to be without [b]care. (AC)He who is unmarried [c]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman (AD)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. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his [d]virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his [e]virgin, does well. 38 (AE)So then he who gives [f]her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
39 (AF)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, (AG)only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, (AH)according to my judgment—and (AI)I think I also have the Spirit of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 direct
- 1 Corinthians 7:32 concern
- 1 Corinthians 7:32 is concerned about
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or virgin daughter
- 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or virgin daughter
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 NU his own virgin
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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