Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 7:11

What does 1 Corinthians 7:11 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 7:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 7:11 means

Anticipating difficult realities, Paul acknowledges that separation may occur. If a wife departs, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. Likewise, a husband should not leave his wife. The aim is restoration, not replacement. Paul holds together truth and compassion: he upholds the covenant’s permanence while recognizing brokenness in a fallen world. By limiting options after separation, he discourages casual divorce and remarriage and directs attention toward repentance and healing. This counsel protects marriage’s sanctity and fosters hope for reconciliation. It also restrains impulsive decisions, reminding believers that peace and faithfulness are better pursued through patient, prayerful efforts to mend what has been torn.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

(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.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a wife.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

(but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and let not husband leave wife.

Context

This verse completes Paul’s appeal to married believers under the authority of the Lord’s teaching (verses 10–11). It sets out the sober path when separation happens: remain single or reconcile. The next section (verses 12–16) addresses a different scenario—marriages where one spouse is an unbeliever—where Paul gives his own apostolic judgment rather than citing a specific command from Jesus. Recognizing this shift in authority claims helps the reader weigh the counsel appropriately and see how Paul applies enduring principles to varied marital circumstances.

v.10But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

v.11This passage

v.12But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 10:2

    And there came unto him Pharisees, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? trying him.

  • Deuteronomy 22:19

    and they shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.

  • Judges 19:2

    And his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there the space of four months.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:10

    But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

  • Jeremiah 3:1

    They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, will he return unto her again? will not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith Jehovah.

  • Isaiah 50:1

    Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.

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