The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
Parallel translations
- WEB Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.
- KJV Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
- NKJV Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
- NASB The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise the wife also to her husband.
- NLT The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.
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
Husband and wife each owe the other their marital affection. It matters because marriage involves a mutual, self-giving duty rather than self-centered demand.
Overview
Paul teaches that sexual intimacy in marriage is a reciprocal obligation: each spouse is to give the other their due. Strikingly for the era, he frames it mutually—the husband owes the wife as much as she owes him. This reflects the self-giving love that should mark Christian marriage, modeled on Christ's love for His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 1 Pet 3:7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
- Exod 21:10If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife.
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 7:3 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.