But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
Parallel translations
- WEB (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.
- KJV But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
- NKJV But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
- NASB (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to divorce his wife.
- NLT But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If a wife does separate, she should stay unmarried or be reconciled, and the husband likewise must not divorce his wife. It matters because reconciliation, not remarriage, is the goal when separation occurs.
Overview
Acknowledging that separation may happen, Paul still upholds the marriage bond: the separated wife should remain single or reconcile, and husbands too must not divorce. The aim is restoration of the covenant, reflecting God's reconciling heart. This careful counsel guards marriage's permanence while addressing real hardship pastorally.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Jer 3:1“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.
- 1 Cor 7:10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
- Judg 19:2–3But she was unfaithful to him and left him to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. After she had been there four months,
- Deut 22:19They are also to fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given a virgin of Israel a bad name. And she shall remain his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.
- Isa 50:1This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
- Mark 10:2Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 7:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.