But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
Parallel translations
- WEB but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
- BSB But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
- NKJV But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.
- NASB but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,
- NLT But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please 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
The married man is rightly concerned with worldly matters and pleasing his wife. His attention is, by God's design, legitimately divided.
Overview
Paul observes, without condemnation, that marriage brings genuine and good responsibilities that occupy a husband's attention. Caring for and pleasing one's spouse is a proper duty, not a fault (cf. Eph 5:25-29). The point is simply realistic: marriage divides one's focus among legitimate competing goods, which is why singleness can offer a different kind of freedom for the Lord's work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Pet 3:7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
- Col 3:19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
- 1 Tim 5:8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
- Eph 5:25–33Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
- 1 Sam 1:4–8And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
- Luke 12:22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
- 1 Cor 7:3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
- Neh 5:1–5And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
- 1 Th 4:11–12And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
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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 7:33 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
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