1 COR 7:11 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not necessarily natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for Bible-translators and others doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still early looks into the drafted texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal Speaker(s)=Narrator (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT (but even if she might be separated, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to the husband), and a husband is not to divorce a wife.

UST Now whenever they do not stay with their husbands, they should not marry again, or they should go back to their husbands. Further, husbands should stay with their wives.

BSB & MSB But if she [does], she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to [her] husband. And a husband must not divorce [his] wife.

BLB But if indeed she is separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to the husband; and a husband is not to send away a wife.

AICNT (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

OEB (If she has done so, she should remain as she is, or else be reconciled to her husband) and also that a man is not to divorce his wife.

WEBBE & WMBB (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

NET (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.

LSV but, and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to the husband, and do not let a husband send a wife away.

FBV (or if she does, she should not remarry, or she should return to her husband); and the husband should not leave his wife.[fn]

7:11 One particular problem in the early church was of one spouse becoming Christian, and how then to relate to the non-Christian spouse. This seems to be what is addressed here.

TCNT (but if she does separate, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and a husband must not divorce his wife.

T4T But if any of you do that, you must remain unmarried, or else you should be reconciled with your husband and live with him again. Similarly, men must not ◄separate from/divorce► their wives.

LEB But if indeed she does separate, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

BBE (Or if she goes away from him, let her keep unmarried, or be united to her husband again); and that the husband may not go away from his wife.

Moff if she has separated, she must either remain single or be reconciled to him — and a husband must not put away his wife.

Wymth or if she has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away his wife.

ASV (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

DRA And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.

YLT but and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a wife.

Drby (but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and let not husband leave wife.

RV (but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

SLT And if also she be separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to the husband: and the husband not to send away the wife.

Wbstr But if she shall depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

KJB-1769 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

KJB-1611 But and if shee depart, let her remaine vnmaried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
(But and if she depart, let her remain unmaried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.)

Bshps But and if she depart, let her remayne vnmarried, or be reconciled vnto her husbande againe: And let not the husbande put away his wyfe.
(But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled unto her husband again: And let not the husband put away his wife.)

Gnva But and if shee depart, let her remaine vnmaried, or be reconciled vnto her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife.
(But and if she depart, let her remain unmaried, or be reconciled unto her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife.)

Cvdl but yf she separate her selfe, yt she remayne vnmaried, or be reconcyled to hir hussbande: and let not the hussbande put awaye his wife from him.
(but if she separate herself, it she remain unmaried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife from him.)

TNT Yf she separate her selfe let her remayne vnmaryed or be reconciled vnto her husbande agayne. And let not the husbande put awaye his wyfe from him.
(If she separate herself let her remain unmaryed or be reconciled unto her husband again. And let not the husband put away his wife from him.)

Wycl and that if sche departith, that sche dwelle vnweddid, or be recounselid to hir hosebonde; and the hosebonde forsake not the wijf.
(and that if she departith, that she dwell unweddid, or be reconciled to her husband; and the husband forsake not the wife.)

Luth So sie sich aber scheidet, daß sie ohne Ehe bleibe oder sich mit dem Manne versöhne, und daß der Mann das Weib nicht von sich lasse.
(So they/she/them itself/yourself/themselves but separates, that they/she/them without Before/marriage would_remain or itself/yourself/themselves with to_him man reconcile, and that the/of_the man the woman not from itself/yourself/themselves let.)

ClVg quod si discesserit, manere innuptam, aut viro suo reconciliari. Et vir uxorem non dimittat.[fn]
(that when/but_if discesserit, to_stay innuptam, or to_the_man his_own to_be_reconciled. And man wife not/no let_go.)

7.11 Quod si discesserit. Aliud est discedere, aliud ex communi consensu continere. Illud enim malum est, hoc bonum. AMBR.. Ideo non subdit de viro sicut de muliere, quia licet viro aliam ducere, quia inferior non omnino hac lege utitur, quia potior quod a falsariis dicitur esse appositum. Et vir uxorem. Non debet vir dimittere uxorem, quia faceret eam mœchari. Quod si illa est adultera non facit, sed adulteram dimittit. Causa quam Christus excepit hic tacetur, quia notissima est, scilicet fornicationis.

7.11 That when/but_if discesserit. Another it_is discedere, something_else from common by_consent to_contain. Illud because evil it_is, this good. AMBR.. Therefore/For_that_reason not/no I_submit from/about to_the_man like from/about woman, because although to_the_man another to_lead, because lower not/no completely this_way lawfully uses, because potior that from falseriis it_is_said to_be appositum. And man wife. Not/No must man to_release wife, because would_do her to_commit_adultery. That when/but_if that it_is adulteress not/no he/it_does, but adulteram dismisses. Causa how Christ/Messiah excepit this/here is_silentur, because knownsima it_is, namely of_fornication.

UGNT (ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω) καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.
((ean de kai ⱪōristhaʸ, menetō agamos aʸ tōi andri katallagaʸtō) kai andra gunaika maʸ afienai.)

SBL-GNT ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω— καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.
(ean de kai ⱪōristhaʸ, menetō agamos aʸ tōi andri katallagaʸtō— kai andra gunaika maʸ afienai.)

RP-GNT ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος, ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω - καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.
(ean de kai ⱪōristhaʸ, menetō agamos, aʸ tōi andri katallagaʸtō - kai andra gunaika maʸ afienai.)

TC-GNT ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος, ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω—καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.
(ean de kai ⱪōristhaʸ, menetō agamos, aʸ tōi andri katallagaʸtō—kai andra gunaika maʸ afienai.)

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

In an earlier letter to Paul, the Corinthians had mentioned some problems and asked him some questions. There are no longer any copies of this letter, so we can only guess what they wrote by reading Paul’s answers. Apparently some of the questions the Corinthians had asked were about marriage and sex. In this section Paul discussed these topics. He wrote about sexual intercourse, divorce, marrying again after a person’s husband or wife dies, and never marrying.

From the way Paul talked, it appears that the Corinthians were thinking that if believers want to be holy, they should abstain from sexual relations. The Corinthians were wondering if married people should sleep together, if Christians who were married to non-Christians should divorce them, and if Christians should get married. Paul gave them some wise teaching on each of these topics. In 7:1–16 he addressed Christians who were married. In 7:17–24 he wrote about his general rule for Christians: Remain as you are. In 7:25–38 he taught Christians who were not married. In 7:39–40 he addressed women whose husbands had died.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul gave/wrote instructions about Christian marriage

Paul’s teaching on marriage

Paragraph 7:10–11

In this paragraph Paul began to address married believers. He told them not to divorce each other, and he reminded them of Jesus’ command.

7:11a

But if she does, she must remain unmarried

And even if she does divorce/leave him, then she should remain/stay unmarried,
And if you ever do go away from your husband, then do not marry anyone else.

But if she does, she must remain unmarried: The English phrase if she does is a short way of saying “if she does separate from her husband.” Paul recognized that sometimes there would be severe problems in marriages and that some wives would leave their husbands. He gave the instruction that in such a case the wife should not marry a different person. Another way to translate this is:

But if she does leave, she must not marry again. (NCV)

7:11b

or else be reconciled to her husband.

or else she should go back to live with her husband.
If you do not want to stay single/unmarried, then return to your husband and be his wife again.

or else: The Greek word that the BSB translates as or else here introduces an alternative action. The woman may either remain single or reconcile with her husband.

be reconciled to her husband: The Greek word that the BSB translates as be reconciled in this context means “reunite with” or “get back together with.” Paul was indicating that a Christian woman who for some reason separates from her husband may later begin to live with him again. The verb be reconciled is in the passive. There are two ways to translate it:

as a passive. For example:
be reconciled to her husband (NET)
as an active. For example:
go back to her husband (CEV)

Translate using the verb form that is most natural in your language.

7:11c

And a husband must not divorce his wife.

And if you are a husband, you must not divorce/leave your wife.
And you husbands, do not send your wives away.

a husband must not divorce his wife: The Greek word that the BSB translates as divorce means “send someone away.” In Greek and Roman culture, a husband could end his marriage by sending his wife away from his home. Paul said that a husband must not send his wife away to go and live somewhere else. He was also indicating in a short way that everything he said to wives in 7:10a-11b is also true for husbands. A Christian man should not divorce his wife. But if he does, he should remain unmarried or else reconcile with his wife.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ καί χωρισθῇ μενέτω ἄγαμος ἤ τῷ ἀνδρί καταλλαγήτω καί ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μή ἀφιέναι)

The ULT puts this clause in parentheses because it is a qualification of what Paul said in [7:11](../07/11.md) and because one can read [7:10–11](../07/10.md) smoothly together without this clause. In this clause, Paul issues commands about what the wife is supposed to do if she divorces her husband despite what Paul has said. Use a form in your language that would indicate a qualification or a parenthesis. Alternate translation: [if she is separated despite what I have said, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to the husband]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

χωρισθῇ & τῷ ἀνδρὶ & ἄνδρα γυναῖκα

˱she˲_˓may_be˒_separated & ˱to˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ καί χωρισθῇ μενέτω ἄγαμος ἤ τῷ ἀνδρί καταλλαγήτω καί ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μή ἀφιέναι)

Here Paul is speaking of wives and husbands in general, not just of one wife and husband. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express wife and husband with a comparable way to refer generically to wives and husbands. Alternate translation: [one of the wives might be separated … to her husband … each husband … his wife]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ καί χωρισθῇ μενέτω ἄγαμος ἤ τῷ ἀνδρί καταλλαγήτω καί ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μή ἀφιέναι)

Here Paul uses even if to introduce a true possibility. He means that a wife might be separated, or she might not. He then specifies the result if she is separated. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by stating the if statement by introducing it with a word such as “whenever” or with a relative clause. Alternate translation: [but let whichever wife might be separated remain]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

χωρισθῇ

˱she˲_˓may_be˒_separated

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on the “wife” who is separated, rather than focusing on the person doing the “separating.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that the “wife” does it herself. Alternate translation: [she separates]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

χωρισθῇ

˱she˲_˓may_be˒_separated

Here Paul omits some words that might be needed in your language to make a complete thought. Paul omits them because he already used them in [7:10](../07/10.md) and he assumes his audience will infer them from there. If you need to include these words, you could insert the words “from her husband.” Alternate translation: [she might be separated from her husband]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω

˓let_be˒_remaining unmarried (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ καί χωρισθῇ μενέτω ἄγαμος ἤ τῷ ἀνδρί καταλλαγήτω καί ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μή ἀφιέναι)

Here Paul uses two third-person imperatives. If you have third-person imperatives in your language, you could use them here. If you do not have third-person imperatives, you could express the idea by using a word such as “should” or “must.” Alternate translation: [she must remain unmarried, or she must be reconciled to the husband]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω

˱to˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ καί χωρισθῇ μενέτω ἄγαμος ἤ τῷ ἀνδρί καταλλαγήτω καί ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μή ἀφιέναι)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on the “wife,” who is reconciled, rather than focusing on the person doing the “reconciling.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that the “wife” does it herself. Alternate translation: [let her reconcile with the husband]

ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι

˓the˒_husband ˓the˒_wife (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ καί χωρισθῇ μενέτω ἄγαμος ἤ τῷ ἀνδρί καταλλαγήτω καί ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μή ἀφιέναι)

Alternate translation: [a husband should not divorce a wife]

Parallel 1 COR 7:11

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

Paragraph 7:10–11

7:11a

7:11b

7:11c

Parallel 1 COR 7:11