1 Corinthians 7:11

(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

World English Bible
Learn

Your notes

Private to you. Anything you write on this verse, here or while reading, shows up here and in My study.

Other translations

WEBBE

(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

BSB

But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

KJV

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

ASV

( but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

BBE

(Or if she goes away from him, let her keep unmarried, or be united to her husband again); and that the husband may not go away from his wife.

Original Greek

Look up a word

Tap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.

ἐὰν ean if G1437 δὲ de however G1161 καὶ kai indeed G2532 χωρισθῇ chōristhēa she shall be separated G5563 μενέτω menetō she should remain G3306 ἄγαμος agamos unmarried G22 ἢ ē or G2228 τῷ tō to the G3588 ἀνδρὶ andri husband G435 καταλλαγήτω katallagētō she should be reconciled G2644 καὶ kai and G2532 ἄνδρα andra a husband G435 γυναῖκα gunaika a wife G1135 μὴ mē not G3361 ἀφιέναι.¶ aphienai is to send away G863

The early church

Because it is a law expressly appointed by Christ which he is about to read to them about the "not putting away a wife without fornication;" therefore he says, "Not I." True it is what was before spoken though it were not expressly stated, yet it also is His decree. But this, you see, He had delivered in express words. So that the words "I and not I" have this difference of meaning. For that you might not imagine even his own words to be human, therefore he added, "For I think that I also have the Spirit of God." Now what is that which "to the married the Lord commanded? That the wife depart not from her husband: but if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled unto her husband." Here, seeing that both on the score of continence and other pretexts, and because of infirmities of temper, it fell out that separations took place: it were better, he says, that such things should not be at all; but however if they take place, let the wife remain with her husband, if not to cohabit with him, yet so as not to introduce any other to be her husband.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 10–16

Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Ro 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though unbelievers. It should be the labour and study of those who are married, to make each other as easy and happy as possible. Should a Christian desert a husband or wife, when there is opportunity to give the greatest proof of love? Stay, and labour heartily for the conversion of thy relative. In every state and relation the Lord has called us to peace; and every thing should be done to promote harmony, as far as truth and holiness will permit.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 7 →

Cross-references

6

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.