1 Corinthians 7:39 nasb — A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes,…

NASB

"A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord."

— 1 Corinthians 7:39, NASB

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1 Corinthians 7:39 in Other Translations

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1 Corinthians 7 — Context

36

But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry.

37

But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well.

38

So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

39

A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

40

But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7:39 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 7:39 say?
1 Corinthians 7:39 in the NASB reads: “A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.”
Where is 1 Corinthians 7:39 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 7:39 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 7, verse 39.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 7:39.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 7:39 in?
1 Corinthians 7:39 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 7:39?
1 Corinthians 7:39 reads (NASB): “A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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