1 Corinthians 7:39 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

³⁹ A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

³⁹ A wife is bound to her husband by law as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she will, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord.

American Standard Version (1901)

³⁹ 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.

Common English Bible

³⁹ A woman is obligated to stay in her marriage as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wants, only it should be a believer in the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version

³⁹ A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free. She may marry whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

³⁹ A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:39 Cross References

Genesis 6:2

the sons of God saw that they were fair, and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose.

Malachi 2:11

Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

1 Corinthians 7:10

To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband

1 Corinthians 7:15

But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called us.

1 Corinthians 7:38

So then, he who marries his fiancée does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do better.