The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
Parallel translations
- WEB The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife.
- KJV The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
- NKJV The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
- NASB The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
- NLT The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to 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
In marriage, each spouse has authority over the other's body. It matters because marriage means a mutual surrender of self to one another.
Overview
Paul states the principle of mutual belonging: the wife's body is, in this sense, the husband's, and equally the husband's body is the wife's. This remarkable mutuality dignifies the wife and forbids selfishness. Marital intimacy is grounded in shared self-giving, a picture of the covenant love and unity God designed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Matt 19:9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.”
- Hos 3:3Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”
- Mark 10:11–12So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
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 7:4 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.