1 Corinthians 7 · Verse 13

1 Corinthians 7:13

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1 Corinthians 7:13, King James Version

1 Corinthians 7:13 in other translations

BSBAnd if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
WEBThe woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.
ASVAnd the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
YLTand a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;
DARBYAnd a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
BBEAnd if a woman has a husband who is not a Christian, and it is his desire to go on living with her, let her not go away from her husband.
WebsterAnd the woman who hath a husband that believeth not, and if he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

What does 1 Corinthians 7:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. the woman--a believer. let her not leave him--"her husband," instead of "him," is the reading of the oldest manuscripts The Greek for "leave" is the same as in 1Co 7:12, "put away"; translate, "Let her not put away [that is, part with] her husband." The wife had the power of effecting a divorce by Greek and Roman law.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Let her not leave him. A change of phraseology from the last verse, to suit the circumstances. The wife had not power to put away the husband, and expel him from his own home; but she might think it her duty to be separated from him. The apostle counsels her not to do this; and this advice should still be followed. She should still love her husband, and seek his welfare; she should be still a kind, affectionate, and faithful wife; and all the more so, that she may show him the excellence of religion, and win him to love it. She should even bear much, and bear it long; nor should she leave him unless her life is rendered miserable, or in danger; or unless he wholly neglects to make provision for her, and leaves her to suffering, to want, and to tears. In such a case, no precept of religion forbids her to return to her father's house, or to seek a place of safety and of comfort. But even then it is not to be a separation on account of a difference of religious sentiment, but for brutal treatment. Even then the marriage tie is not dissolved, and neither party are at liberty to marry again.

(*) "him" "not put him away"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 And the woman - Converted from heathenism to the Christian faith; which hath a husband, who still abides in heathenism; if he be pleased to dwell with her, notwithstanding she has become a Christian since their marriage; let her not leave him because he still continues a heathen.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Ro 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 →

1 Corinthians 7:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
γυνὴgunēa womanG1135
εἴeiifG1487
τιςtisanyG5100
ἔχειecheihasG2192
ἄνδραandraa husbandG435
ἄπιστονapistonunbelievingG571
καὶkaiandG2532
οὗτοςhoutosheG3778
συνευδοκεῖsuneudokeiconsentsG4909
οἰκεῖνoikeinto dwellG3611
μετ᾽met᾽withG3326
αὐτῆς,autēsher,G846
μὴmēnotG3361
ἀφιέτωaphietōshe should divorceG863
ἄνδρα.andrahusband.G435

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 7:12

    But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:13

    And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:14

    For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y la mujer que tiene marido infiel, y él consiente en habitar con ella, no lo deje.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et si une femme a un mari incrédule, et qu’il veuille habiter avec elle, qu’elle n’abandonne pas son mari.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und ein Weib, das einen ungläubigen Mann hat, und er willigt ein, bei ihr zu wohnen, so entlasse sie den Mann nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et si qua mulier fidelis habet virum infidelem, et hic consentit habitare cum illa, non dimittat virum: