1 Corinthians 7 · Verse 35

1 Corinthians 7:35

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

1 Corinthians 7:35, King James Version

1 Corinthians 7:35 in other translations

BSB	I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
WEB	This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.
ASV	And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
YLT	And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,
DARBY	But I say this for your own profit; not that I may set a snare before you, but for what is seemly, and waiting on the Lord without distraction.
BBE	Now I say this for your profit; not to make things hard for you, but because of what is right, and so that you may be able to give all your attention to the things of the Lord.
Webster	And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

What does 1 Corinthians 7:35 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

35. for your own profit--not to display my apostolic authority. not ... cast a snare upon you--image from throwing a noose over an animal in hunting. Not that by hard injunctions I may entangle you with the fear of committing sin where there is no sin. comely--befitting under present circumstances. attend upon--literally, "assiduously wait on"; sitting down to the duty. Compare Lu 10:39, Mary; Lu 2:37, "Anna ... a widow, who departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day" (1Ti 5:5). distraction--the same Greek as "cumbered" (Lu 10:40, Martha).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 35. For your own profit. That you may avail yourselves of all your advantages and privileges, and pursue such a course as shall tend most to advance your personal piety and salvation.

Not that I may cast a snare upon you. The word rendered snare (βροχον) means a cord, a rope, a bond; and the sense is, that Paul would not bind them by any rule which God had not made; or that he would not restrain them from that which is lawful, and which the welfare of society usually requires. Paul means, that his object in his advice was their welfare; it was not by any means to bind, fetter, or restrain them from any course which would be for their real happiness, but to promote their real and permanent advantage, The idea which is here presented by the word snare, is usually conveyed by the use of the word yoke, Mt 11:29, Acts 15:10, Gal 5:1, and sometimes by the word burden, Mt 23:4, Acts 15:28.

But for that which is comely. (ευσχημον.) Decorous, fit, proper, noble. For that which is best fitted to your present condition, and which, on the whole, will be best, and most for your own advantage. There would be a fitness and propriety in their pursuing the course which he recommended.

That ye may attend upon the Lord. That you may engage in religious duties and serve God.

Without distraction. Without being drawn away, (απερισπαστως;) without care, interruption, and anxiety. That you may be free to engage with undivided interest in the service of the Lord.

(+) "profit" "Advantage" (*) "comely" "becoming"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 35 This I speak for your own profit - The advices belong to yourselves alone, because of the peculiar circumstances in which you are placed. Nothing spoken here was ever designed to be of general application; it concerned the Church at Corinth alone, or Churches in similar circumstances. Not that I may cast a snare upon you - Ουχ ἱνα βροχον ὑμιν επιβαλω - Here is a manifest allusion to the Retiarius among the Romans, who carried a small casting net, which he endeavored to throw over the head of his adversary and thus entangle him. Or to a similar custom among the Persians, who made use of a noose called the camand; which they employed in the same way. One of these lies before me; it is a strong silken cord, one end of which is a loop to be held in the hand, and the rest is in the form of a common snare or noose, which, catching hold of any thing, tightens in proportion as it is pulled by the hand that holds the loop. The apostle, therefore, intimates that what he says was not intended absolutely to bind them, but to show them the propriety of following an advice which in the present case would be helpful to them in their religious connections, that they might attend upon the Lord without distraction, which they could not do in times of persecution, when, in addition to their own personal safety, they had a wife and children to care for. For that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction , - The original αλλα προς το ευσχημον και ευπροσεδρον τῳ Κυριῳ απερισπαστως, of which our version is only a paraphrase, is thus translated by Bishop Pearson: But for the sake of decency, and of attending more easily upon the Lord without distraction. This is much more literal than ours.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:25-35

Considering the distress of those times, the unmarried state was best. Notwithstanding, the apostle does not condemn marriage. How opposite are those to the apostle Paul who forbid many to marry, and entangle them with vows to remain single, whether they ought to do so or not! He exhorts all Christians to holy indifference toward the world. As to relations; they must not set their hearts on the comforts of the…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 7:25-35 →

1 Corinthians 7:35 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.

τοῦτοtoutoThisG3778

δὲdenowG1161

πρὸςprosforG4314

τὸtotheG3588

ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771

αὐτῶνautōnyourselvesG846

σύμφορονsumphoron[your] benefitG4851

λέγω,legōI say,G3004

οὐχouchnotG3756

ἵναinathatG2443

βρόχονbrochona restraintG1029

ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771

ἐπιβάλωepibalōI may place uponG1911

ἀλλὰallabutG235

πρὸςprosforG4314

τὸtowhatG3588

εὔσχημονeuschēmon[is] seemlyG2158

καὶkaiandG2532

εὐπάρεδρονeuparedrondevotedG2145

τῷtōto theG3588

κυρίῳkuriōLordG2962

ἀπερισπάστως.¶aperispastōswithout distraction.G563

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 7:35

1 Corinthians 7:33-34
But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:36
But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
Luke 8:14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1 Corinthians 7:2
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Luke 10:40-42
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 21:34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Matthew 19:12
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
1 Corinthians 7:28
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
Titus 2:3
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Ephesians 5:3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
1 Corinthians 7:5-9
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

not.This is an allusion to the {Retiarius} among the Romans, who carried a small casting net, {rete,} which he endeavoured to throw over his adversary's head.
2,5-9,28,36; Mt 19:12
comely.
36; Eph 5:3; Php 4:8; 1Ti 1:10; Tit 2:3
and that.
33,34; Lu 8:14; 10:40-42; 21:34

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

Context

1 Corinthians 7:34
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:35
And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1 Corinthians 7:36
But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:35 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Esto empero digo para vuestro provecho; no para echaros lazo, sino para lo honesto y decente, y para que sin impedimento os lleguéis al Señor.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais je dis ceci pour votre propre avantage, non pour vous enlacer dans des liens, mais en vue de ce qui est bienséant, et pour que vous vaquiez au service du Seigneur sans distraction.
German Elberfelder 1871	Dies aber sage ich zu eurem eigenen Nutzen, nicht auf daß ich euch eine Schlinge überwerfe, sondern zur Wohlanständigkeit und zu ungeteiltem Anhangen an dem Herrn.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Porro hoc ad utilitatem vestram dico: non ut laqueum vobis injiciam, sed ad id, quod honestum est, et quod facultatem præbeat sine impedimento Dominum obsecrandi.