but one who is married is concerned about the things 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.
- KJV But he that is married careth for the things that are 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.
- 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 3:7You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.
- Col 3:19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
- 1 Tim 5:8But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
- Eph 5:25–33Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;
- 1 Sam 1:4–8When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions;
- Luke 12:22He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.
- 1 Cor 7:3Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.
- Neh 5:1–5Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
- 1 Th 4:11–12and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed 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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