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1 Corinthians 7:39

Jesus
MarriageFaithfulness and loyaltyDeath and loss

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

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.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
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.
WEB
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 whomever she desires, only in the Lord.
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.
DARBY
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.
BLB
A wife has been bound for as long a time [as] her husband may live; but if the husband shall have died, she is free to be married to whom she wants, only in the Lord.
ÅB
En hustru er bundet så lenge hennes mann lever; men når hennes mann er hensovet, da har hun frihet til å gifte seg med hvem hun vil, bare det skjer i Herren.
OTB
En kone er forpliktet til sin mann så lenge han lever; men hvis hennes mann går bort, er hun fri til å gifte seg med hvem hun vil, bare i Herren.
B1930
En hustru er bundet så lenge hennes mann lever; men når hennes mann er hensovet, da har hun frihet til å gifte sig med hvem hun vil, bare det skjer i Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Romans 7:2–3

    For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

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  • 2 Corinthians 6:14–16

    Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

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  • 1 Corinthians 7:10

    And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

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  • 1 Corinthians 7:15

    But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

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  • Malachi 2:11

    Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

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  • Deuteronomy 7:3–4

    Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

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  • Genesis 6:2

    That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

    Read in context