1 Corinthians 7:13
What does 1 Corinthians 7:13 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 7:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 7:13 means
Paul applies the same principle to a believing woman married to an unbeliever: if he is content to dwell with her, she should not leave him. The equality of counsel to both genders is deliberate. Christian faith does not negate marriage vows; rather, it calls the believer to steady love and patience. Such perseverance can become a quiet testimony of Christ’s grace in the home. The believer is not defiled by the unbelieving spouse’s status. Instead, as the next verse teaches, there is a sanctifying influence flowing from the believer to the family. This preserves marriages, reduces scandal, and offers a context where God may work salvation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And if a woman has a husband who is not a Christian, and it is his desire to go on living with her, let her not go away from her husband.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not and he consent to dwell with her: let her not put away her husband.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave [her] husband.
Context
This verse parallels verse 12, ensuring that the same rule applies to husbands and wives alike in mixed-faith marriages. Paul is balancing previous strictures about divorce with compassion for complex situations in Corinth. Immediately in verse 14 he will explain why staying is appropriate: the unbelieving spouse is “sanctified” in relation to the believer, and the children are regarded as “holy” in the covenantal sense. The sequence builds a theological rationale for remaining together and frames the subsequent permission in verse 15 if the unbelieving spouse chooses to depart.
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.
v.13This passage
v.14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
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