And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
Parallel translations
- WEB The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.
- KJV And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
- BSB And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
- NASB And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.
- NLT And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.
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
Likewise a believing wife should not leave a willing unbelieving husband. It matters because the believing spouse is to honor the marriage and witness within it.
Overview
Paul applies the same principle to wives: if her unbelieving husband is content to remain, she should not divorce him. The mutual phrasing again dignifies both spouses. The believing partner stays not by compromise but to preserve God's institution and bear gracious testimony to Christ in the marriage.
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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.
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Original language
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