Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 7:30

What does 1 Corinthians 7:30 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 7:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 7:30 means

Paul extends the perspective: those who weep should live as though not weeping, and those who rejoice as though not rejoicing; those who buy, as though not possessing. He calls for emotional and economic detachment—not indifference, but freedom from being controlled by changing fortunes. Grief and joy are real, commerce is necessary, but none should master the heart. The nearness of eternity relativizes both sorrows and successes. This enables steady faithfulness through swings of life. Believers can mourn without despair and celebrate without idolatry. They can transact business without making wealth their identity. Such balanced engagement displays hope anchored beyond the world’s rise and fall.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And for those who are in sorrow, to give no signs of it; and for those who are glad, to give no signs of joy; and for those who are getting property, to be as if they had nothing;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they that weep, as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not: and they that buy as if they possessed not:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and they that weep, as not weeping; and they that rejoice, as not rejoicing; and they that buy, as not possessing;

Context

Following verse 29’s call to hold marriage loosely, verse 30 applies the same principle to the full range of life’s experiences and activities. It sets up verse 31’s final statement about using the world without being engrossed in it, because its present form is passing. This three-verse sweep grounds Paul’s earlier counsel about minimizing entanglements: the aim is not asceticism but freedom for undistracted devotion to the Lord, whatever one’s current state. The flow ties practical advice to a deep eschatological orientation.

v.29But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

v.30This passage

v.31and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 16:25

    But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.

  • Revelation 7:17

    for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.

  • Luke 6:21

    Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

  • Isaiah 30:19

    For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more; he will surely be gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear, he will answer thee.

  • Psalms 126:5

    They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:4

    a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

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