1 Corinthians 7 · Verse 2

1 Corinthians 7:2

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1 Corinthians 7:2, King James Version

1 Corinthians 7:2 in other translations

BSBBut because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
WEBBut, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
ASVBut, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
YLTand because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;
DARBYbut on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband.
BBEBut because of the desires of the flesh, let every man have his wife, and every woman her husband.
WebsterNevertheless, to avoid lewdness, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

What does 1 Corinthians 7:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Here the general rule is given to avoid fornication--More literally, "on account of fornications," to which as being very prevalent at Corinth, and not even counted sins among the heathen, unmarried persons might be tempted. The plural, "fornications," marks irregular lusts, as contrasted with the unity of the marriage relation [Bengel]. let every man have--a positive command to all who have not the gift of continency, in fact to the great majority of the world (1Co 7:5). The dignity of marriage is set forth by Paul (Ep 5:25-32), in the fact that it signifies the mystical union between Christ and the Church.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. Nevertheless. But, (δε.) Though this is to be admitted as proper where it can be done, when a man has entire control of himself and his passions, and though in present circumstances it would be expedient, yet it may be proper also to enter into the marriage connexion.

To avoid fornication. Greek, On account of (δια) fornication. The word fornication is used here in the large sense of licentiousness in general. For the sake of the purity of society, and to avoid the evils of sensual indulgence, and the corruptions and crimes which attend an illicit intercourse, it is proper that the married state should be entered. To this vice they were particularly exposed in Corinth. See the Introduction. Paul would keep the church from scandal. How much evil, how much deep pollution, how many abominable crimes would have been avoided, which have since grown out of the monastic system, and the celibacy of the clergy among the papists, if Paul's advice had been followed by all professed Christians! Paul says that marriage is honourable, and that the relations of domestic life should be formed, to avoid the evils which would otherwise result. The world is the witness of the evils which flow from the neglect of his advice. Every community where the marriage tie has been lax and feeble, or where it has been disregarded or dishonoured, has been full of pollution, and it ever will be. Society is pure and virtuous, just as marriage is deemed honourable, and as its vows are adhered to and preserved.

Let every man, etc. Let the marriage vow be honoured by all.

Have his own wife. And one wife, to whom he shall be faithful. Polygamy is unlawful under the gospel; and divorce is unlawful. Let every man and woman, therefore, honour the institution of God, and avoid the evils of illicit indulgence.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 To avoid fornication - Δια τας πορνειας· verto, propter exercendam libidinem, vel ut libidinem licite exercere liceat. Probo hanc notionem ex Hebraeo, ibi זנה, zanah, est libidinem exercere, Hos 4:10 : For they shall eat and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom, תזנו, libidinem exercebunt, and shall not increase. Here the prophet certainly does not speak of whoredom in our sense of the word; for the persons he mentions expected to have children, which cannot be said of those who are addicted to improper connections: the prophet speaks concerning married persons, whom he threatens with a privation of children, notwithstanding libidinem exercebant in order to have numerous families. See Schoettgen. The following verse shows that this is the apostle's meaning. Let every man have his own wife - Let every man have one woman, his own; and every woman one man, her own. Here, plurality of wives and husbands is most strictly forbidden; and they are commanded to marry for the purpose of procreating children. In the Jewish constitutions there are some things not only curious, but useful, respecting marriage. "There are four causes which induce men to marry: 1. Impure desire; 2. To get riches; 3. To become honorable; 4. For the glory of God. Those who marry through the first motive beget wicked and rebellious children. Those who marry for the sake of riches have the curse of leaving them to others. Those who marry for the sake of aggrandizing their family, their families shall be diminished. Those who marry to promote the glory of God, their children shall be holy, and by them shall the true Church be increased."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:1-9

Chapter Outline The apostle answers several questions about marriage. (1-9) Married Christians should not seek to part from their unbelieving consorts. (10-16) Persons, in any fixed station, should usually abide in that. (17-24) It was most desirable, on account of the then perilous days, for people to sit loose to this world. (25-35) Great prudence be used in marriage; it should be only in the Lord. (36-40) Verses…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 →

1 Corinthians 7:2 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.

διὰdiaBecause ofG1223
δὲdehoweverG1161
τὰςtas<the>G3588
πορνείαςporneiassexual immoralityG4202
ἕκαστοςhekastoseach manG1538
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ἑαυτοῦhe'autouhis ownG1438
γυναῖκαgunaikawifeG1135
ἐχέτω,echetōshould have,G2192
καὶkaiandG2532
ἑκάστηhekastēeach [woman]G1538
τὸνtontheG3588
ἴδιονidion[her] ownG2398
ἄνδραandrahusbandG435
ἐχέτω.echetōshould have.G2192

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 7:2

  • Ephesians 5:28

    So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

  • Ephesians 5:33

    Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:9

    But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

  • Proverbs 18:22

    Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

  • Proverbs 5:18-19

    Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18

    Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

  • Malachi 2:14

    Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

  • Proverbs 19:14

    House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

  • 1 Timothy 4:3

    Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
to avoid.
9; 6:18; Pr 5:18,19; 1Ti 4:3
let.
Pr 18:22; 19:14; Mal 2:14; Eph 5:28,33

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 7:1

    Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2

    Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:3

    Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas á causa de las fornicaciones, cada uno tenga su mujer, y cada una tenga su marido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais, à cause de la fornication, que chacun ait sa propre femme, et que chaque femme ait son mari à elle.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber um der Hurerei willen habe ein jeder sein eigenes Weib, und eine jede habe ihren eigenen Mann.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		propter fornicationem autem unusquisque suam uxorem habeat, et unaquæque suum virum habeat.