1 Corinthians 7:39
“The wife is bound by the Lawe as long as her husband liueth: but if her husband bee dead, shee is at liberty to bee maried to whom shee will, onely in the Lord.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling.
Click to switch to the Standard KJV.
1 Corinthians 7:39 Context
37Neuerthelesse, hee that standeth stedfast in his heart, hauing no necessitie, but hath power ouer his owne will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keepe his virgin, doeth well. 38So then he that giueth her in mariage, doeth wel: but he that giueth her not in mariage, doeth better. 39The wife is bound by the Lawe as long as her husband liueth: but if her husband bee dead, shee is at liberty to bee maried to whom shee will, onely in the Lord. 40But shee is happier if shee sobide, after my iudgment: and I thinke also that I haue the Spirit of God.
Share This Verse:
Other Translations for 1 Corinthians 7:39
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.
- King James Version
A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
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.
- American Standard Version (1901)
It is right for a wife to be with her husband as long as he is living; but when her husband is dead, she is free to be married to another; but only to a Christian.
- Basic English Bible
A wife is bound for whatever time her husband lives; but if the husband be fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in [the] Lord.
- Darby Bible
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband is dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
- Webster's Bible
A woman is bound to her husband during the whole period that he lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, provided that he is a Christian.
- Weymouth Bible
A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord.
- World English Bible
The womman is boundun to the lawe, as longe tyme as hir hosebonde lyueth; and if hir hosebonde is deed, sche is delyuered fro the lawe of the hosebonde, be sche weddid to whom sche wole, oneli in the Lord.
- Wycliffe Bible
A wife hath been bound by law as long time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will -- only in the Lord;
- Youngs Literal Bible
Wesley's Notes for 1 Corinthians 7:39
7:39 Only in the Lord - That is, only if Christians marry Christians: a standing direction, and one of the utmost importance.
People's Bible Notes for 1 Corinthians 7:39
1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law, etc. One point remains to be discussed, viz., The remarriage of widows. I suppose that the letter of inquiry asked about this. She is at liberty to be married to whom she will. In case of her husband's death, she is free from the marriage bond, and can marry whom she will, with one limitation--she must marry only in the Lord; that is, a Christian. An alien marriage is prohibited. Indeed, so far was an ancient Christian from marrying an unbeliever that the question actually arose whether, when the sinner was converted, he could still live with an unconverted partner. See 1Co 7:12-14.