1 Corinthians 7 · Verse 8

1 Corinthians 7:8

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1 Corinthians 7:8, King James Version

1 Corinthians 7:8 in other translations

BSBNow to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
WEBBut I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
ASVBut I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
YLTAnd I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I am;
DARBYBut I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I.
BBEBut I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them to be even as I am.
WebsterI say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I.

What does 1 Corinthians 7:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. to the unmarried--in general, of both sexes (1Co 7:10, 11). and widows--in particular. even as I--unmarried (1Co 9:5).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. To the unmarried. The word unmarried (αγαμοις) may refer either to those who had never been married, or to widowers. It here means simply those who were at that time unmarried, and his reasoning applies to both classes.

And widows. The apostle specifies these, though he had not specified widowers particularly. The reason of this distinction seems to be, that he considers more particularly the case of those females who had never been married, in the close of the chapter, 1Cor 7:25.

It is good for them. It may be advisable, in the present circumstances of persecution and distress, not to be encumbered with the cares and anxieties of a family. 1Cor 7:26,32-34.

If they abide. That they remain, in the present circumstances, unmarried. See 1Cor 7:26.

(*) "unmarried and widows" "Or to widowers"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 The unmarried and widows - It is supposed that the apostle speaks here of men who had been married, in the word αγαμοι, but were now widowers; as he does of women who had been married, in the word χηραι, but were now widows. And when he says ὡς καγω, even as I, he means that he himself was a widower; for several of the ancients rank Paul among the married apostles.

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 7:8 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.

ΛέγωLegōI sayG3004
δὲdenowG1161
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
ἀγάμοιςagamoisunmarriedG22
καὶkaiandG2532
ταῖςtaisto theG3588
χήραις,chēraiswidows,G5503
καλὸνkalongoodG2570
αὐτοῖςautoisfor themG846
ἐὰνeanifG1437
μείνωσινmeinōsinthey shall remainG3306
ὡςhōsasG5613
κἀγώ.kagōalso I. myselfG1473

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 7:8

  • 1 Corinthians 7:32

    But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

  • 1 Corinthians 7:34-35

    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. 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 7:7

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:26-27

    I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:1

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7:26,27,32,34,35

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 7:7

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:8

    I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:9

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

Read all of 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Digo pues á los solteros y á las viudas, que bueno les es si se quedaren como yo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or je dis à ceux qui ne sont pas mariés et aux veuves, qu’il leur est bon de demeurer comme moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich sage aber den Unverheirateten und den Witwen: Es ist gut für sie, wenn sie bleiben wie auch ich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dico autem non nuptis, et viduis: bonum est illis si sic permaneant, sicut et ego.