1 COR 7:14 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) You see, the unbelieving husband is exposed to faith through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is exposed to faith through the believing husband, otherwise your children would be ‘defiled’, but now they are declared innocent.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, 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 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through the brother. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

UST You should remain with an unbelieving husband or wife, because God considers the unbelieving husband to be an acceptable spouse for the believing wife. Similarly, God considers the unbelieving wife to be an acceptable spouse for the believing husband. Because of this, God treats the children in this situation just like he treats the children of two believing parents. If what I have said were not true, God would treat the children in this situation just like he treats the children of two unbelieving parents.

BLB For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise, your children are unclean; but now they are holy.

AICNT For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the {brother};[fn] otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

7:14, brother: Later manuscripts read “husband” and clarify the obvious intent of Paul. BYZ TR

OEB For, through his wife, the husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ’s people; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ’s people through the Lord’s follower whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be “defiled,” but, as it is, they belong to Christ’s people.

WEBBE For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

LSV for the unbelieving husband has been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

FBV For a husband who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian wife, and for a wife who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian husband.[fn] Otherwise it would mean your children were impure, but now they are holy.

7:14 Paul is not saying here that being married to a Christian the non-Christian spouse therefore becomes a Christian or experiences salvation. He is concerned to address the issue that by being married to a non-Christian spouse in some way “defiles” the marriage or the Christian in the relationship. That this is the real issue is made clear concerning children of such a marriage—they are also not “impure” but they are “holy,” and this is not any reference to the actual spiritual state of the children.

TCNT For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through [fn]her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

7:14 her husband 94.7% ¦ the brother CT 3.5%

T4T I say that because God has set apart every woman’s unbelieving husband for himself because of his wife being a believer, and God has set apart every man’s unbelieving wife for himself because of her husband being a believer. If that were not true, God would consider their children unacceptable. But, the fact is that God does consider them acceptable to him.

LEB For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother, since otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

BBE For the husband who has not faith is made holy through his Christian wife, and the wife who is not a Christian is made holy through the brother: if not, your children would be unholy, but now are they holy.

Moff For the unbelieving husband is consecrated in the person of his wife,
⇔ and the unbelieving wife is consecrated in the person of the Christian brother she has married; otherwise, of course, your children would be unholy instead of being consecrated to God.

Wymth For, in such cases, the unbelieving husband has become—and is—holy through union with a Christian woman, and the unbelieving wife is holy through union with a Christian brother. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but in reality they have a place among God's people.

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

DRA For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.

YLT for the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

Drby For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; since [otherwise] indeed your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

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

SLT For the unbelieving husband was consecrated in the wife, and the unbelieving wife was consecrated in the husband: for then are our children unclean; and now are they holy.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 For the vnbeleeuing husband is sanctified by the wife, and the vnbeleeuing wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children vncleane, but now are they holy.
(For the unbeleeuing husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbeleeuing wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.)

Bshps For the vnbeleuing husbande is sanctified by the wyfe, and the vnbeleuyng wyfe is sanctified by the husbande: els were your children vncleane, but nowe are they holy.
(For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbeleuing wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.)

Gnva For the vnbeleeuing husband is sanctified to the wife, and the vnbeleeuing wife is sanctified to the husband, els were your children vncleane: but nowe are they holie.
(For the unbeleeuing husband is sanctified to the wife, and the unbeleeuing wife is sanctified to the husband, else were your children unclean: but now are they holy. )

Cvdl For the vnbeleuynge hussbande is sanctified by the wife, and the vnbeleuynge wife is sanctified by the hussbande: or els were youre children vncleane, but now are they holy.
(For the unbelieving hussbande is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the hussbande: or else were your(pl) children unclean, but now are they holy.)

TNT For the vnbelevynge husbande is sanctified by the wyfe: and the vnbelevynge wyfe is sanctified by the husbande. Or els were youre chyldren vnclene: but now are they pure.
(For the unbeleving husband is sanctified by the wife: and the unbeleving wife is sanctified by the husband. Or else were your(pl) children unclean: but now are they pure. )

Wycl For the vnfeithful hosebonde is halewid bi the feithful womman, and the vnfeithful womman is halewid bi the feithful hosebonde. Ellis youre children weren vncleene, but now thei ben hooli.
(For the unfaithful husband is hallowed/consecrated by the faithful woman, and the unfaithful woman is hallowed/consecrated by the faithful husband. Ellis your(pl) children were unclean, but now they been holy.)

Luth Denn der ungläubige Mann ist geheiliget durch das Weib, und das ungläubige Weib wird geheiliget durch den Mann. Sonst wären eure Kinder unrein; nun aber sind sie heilig.
(Because the/of_the unbelieving man is sanctified through the woman, and the unbelieving woman becomes sanctified through the man. Otherwise would_be your(pl) children unclean; now but are they/she/them holy.)

ClVg sanctificatus est enim vir infidelis per mulierem fidelem, et sanctificata est mulier infidelis per virum fidelem: alioquin filii vestri immundi essent, nunc autem sancti sunt.[fn]
(sanctified it_is because man unfaithful through woman faithful, and sanctified it_is woman unfaithful through husband faithful: otherwise children yours unclean/impure they_would_be, now however holy are. )

7.14 Sanctificatus est. Quia hoc sæpe contingit quod alter per alterum ad fidem convertitur. Vel mundus est vir infidelis quantum ad fidelem mulierem, et nullam ex ejus conjunctione immunditiam patitur mulier fidelis. Alioquin. Si dimittitis, invicem nolentes cohabitare et aliis vos copulatis, adulteri estis, et filii vestri spurii, et ideo immundi; nunc, sancti, quia de licitis conjugiis nati, et sub Creatoris veneratione nati.

7.14 Holyficatus it_is. Because this often contingit that the_other through the_other to faith he_turnedur. Or world it_is man unfaithful quantum to faithful woman, and none from his conjunctione impurity suffers woman faithful. Alioquin. When/But_if you_let_go, each_other unwillingly coto_live and to_others you(pl) copulatis, adulteri you_are, and children yours spurii, and therefore/for_that_reason unclean/impure; now, holy, because from/about licitis conyugiis nati, and under creator had_comeione nati.

UGNT ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί; καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ; ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν; νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.
(haʸgiastai gar ho anaʸr ho apistos en taʸ gunaiki; kai haʸgiastai haʸ gunaʸ haʸ apistos en tōi adelfōi; epei ara ta tekna humōn akatharta estin; nun de hagia estin.)

SBL-GNT ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ⸀ἀδελφῷ· ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν, νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.
(haʸgiastai gar ho anaʸr ho apistos en taʸ gunaiki, kai haʸgiastai haʸ gunaʸ haʸ apistos en tōi ⸀adelfōi; epei ara ta tekna humōn akatharta estin, nun de hagia estin.)

RP-GNT Ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀνδρί· ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν, νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.
(Haʸgiastai gar ho anaʸr ho apistos en taʸ gunaiki, kai haʸgiastai haʸ gunaʸ haʸ apistos en tōi andri; epei ara ta tekna humōn akatharta estin, nun de hagia estin.)

TC-GNT Ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ [fn]ἀνδρί· ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστι, νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.
(Haʸgiastai gar ho anaʸr ho apistos en taʸ gunaiki, kai haʸgiastai haʸ gunaʸ haʸ apistos en tōi andri; epei ara ta tekna humōn akatharta esti, nun de hagia estin. )

7:14 ανδρι 94.7% ¦ αδελφω CT 3.5%

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 7:12–16

Paul now discussed the case of believers married to unbelievers. Paul had first preached the gospel in Corinth only three or four years before he wrote this letter. So most believers in Corinth had only been believers for a few years. Some men had become believers but their wives had not. And some women had become believers but their husbands had not. Apparently some people in Corinth were wondering whether Christians should remain married to unbelievers. Paul’s answer was that the believer is not to ask for a divorce. But if the unbelieving husband or wife chooses to leave, the believer need not think he or she has to stay married to that person.

7:14a

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife,

For the husband belongs to the Lord because of his Christian wife.
The husband who is not a believer is made holy through his believing wife. (NCV)

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For here introduces a reason why believers should not leave their husbands or wives who were not believers.

the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife: The Greek word that the BSB translates as is sanctified means to be made holy or set apart to belong to God. See the notes on 1:2b and 1:2c. Paul was saying that the husband of the believer was set apart by his marriage and in some way made holy or acceptable to God.In 1 Timothy 4:5, Paul said that food “is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” The Greek word that Paul used for “sanctified” is the same Greek word that is translated “sanctified” in 1 Corinthians 7:14. In 1 Timothy 4:5 Paul meant that the food is not unclean, and therefore it is fit/proper for us to eat. In Romans 11:16 Paul said, “If the root is holy, so are the branches.” By this he meant that if the ancestors of the Jewish people (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) belonged to God, all the Jewish people belong to God. But yet not all Jewish people are saved. These two verses show us that someone can be said to be “sanctified” or “holy” in one sense and yet not be saved. Therefore the marriage was not impure, and the believing wife was not to separate from him. Other ways to translate this include:

the unbelieving husband is made acceptable to God by being united to his wife (GNT)

The husband who is not a believer is made holy through his believing wife. (NCV)

Paul did not mean that the unbeliever was saved or that his or her sins are forgiven because he or she was married to a believer. But he did mean that the Lord sees the unbelieving partner and the marriage as acceptable or holy.

7:14b

and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband.

And the wife belongs to the Lord because of you, her Christian husband.
And the wife who is not a believer is made holy through her believing husband. (NCV)

and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband: The text that the BSB has translated as her believing husband is literally “the brother.” This refers to a believing man, a Christian. The man was not his wife’s brother in either a literal or a spiritual sense. Most English versions do not use the word “brother” here. Here is another way to translate this:

the unbelieving wife is made acceptable to God by being united to her Christian husband (GNT)

General Comment on 7:14a-b

In some languages it may be natural to combine rather than repeat the information in these 7:14a-b. For example:

Your husband or wife who isn’t a follower is made holy by having you as a mate. (CEV)

7:14c-d

Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy: These verse parts explain Paul’s reason for saying that the unbeliever was sanctified by his or her believing spouse. If it were not true, the children of the marriage would be unclean. But Paul and his readers assumed that the children were not unclean. So, he argued, it must be true that in some way the unbelieving partner was made holy through his or her believing spouse and, because of that, the children are considered holy.

7:14c

Otherwise your children would be unclean,

If it were not so, then your children would not belong to God.
If that were not true, then their children would be like the children of parents who are not Christians.

Otherwise: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Otherwise here means “If this were not so” (GNT); that is, if the unbelieving spouse were not in some way made holy.

your children: The phrase your children refers to the children born from the marriage between the believer and the unbeliever. In some languages it may be natural to use a third-person pronoun to match the previous verse, after the model of the GNT:

their children (GNT)

Paul was saying that if one parent is a believer, the children in some way belong to God. Paul wanted the Corinthians to see that as an important reason for remaining married to their unbelieving husbands and wives.

unclean: The Greek word that the BSB translates as unclean is a word used for people or things that were, for various reasons, ceremonially impure. They were not acceptable to God and could not be used for serving him. This word does not imply sinfulness, but it does imply something that is not sacred; in this context, outside the community of God’s believing people. Other ways to translate this include:

like pagan children (GNT)

they would not belong to God

7:14d

but now they are holy.

But because both you and your unbelieving husband or wife belong to God, your children belong to God too.
But because one parent belongs to God, God cares for the children as belonging to himself also.

but now: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as but now here introduces the actual state of affairs.

they are holy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as holy in this context is the opposite of the word “unclean” in the previous verse part. The word holy comes from the same root word as “sanctify” (see the note on 1:2c). Someone who is holy is someone who belongs to God. So Paul was saying that the children of mixed marriages belong to God. They can be considered part of the community of God’s people and under God’s special care. Other ways to translate this include:

they are acceptable to God (GNT)

they are actually consecrated to God (JBP)

they belong to God

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡγίασται Γάρ ὁ ἀνήρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί καί ἡγίασται ἡ γυνή ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ ἐπεί ἄρα τά τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτα ἐστίν νῦν δέ ἅγια ἐστίν)

Here, For introduces the reason or basis for Paul’s commands in [7:12–13](../07/12.md). When one spouse is not a believer, Paul wants them to stay together, and the reason is that the unbelieving spouse is sanctified. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express For with a word or phrase that introduces the basis for a command. Alternate translation: [You should do this because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί & ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ

the ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡγίασται Γάρ ὁ ἀνήρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί καί ἡγίασται ἡ γυνή ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ ἐπεί ἄρα τά τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτα ἐστίν νῦν δέ ἅγια ἐστίν)

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: [any unbelieving husband … through his wife … any unbelieving wife … through her husband]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡγίασται & ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί; καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ

˓has_been˒_sanctified & the ˓has_been˒_sanctified & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡγίασται Γάρ ὁ ἀνήρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί καί ἡγίασται ἡ γυνή ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ ἐπεί ἄρα τά τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτα ἐστίν νῦν δέ ἅγια ἐστίν)

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 those who are sanctified rather than the person doing the “sanctifying.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God sanctifies the unbelieving husband through the wife, and God sanctifies the unbelieving wife through the brother]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

(Occurrence -1) ἡγίασται

Here, sanctified is a reference to purity. It does not mean that the unbelieving husband or unbelieving wife is considered to be a believer. Rather, Paul’s point is that the believing spouse is not made unclean by the unbelieving spouse. Just the opposite: the marriage is clean and pure because of the believing spouse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express sanctified with a word or phrase that identifies an acceptable or pure marriage partner. Alternate translation: [is made clean … is made clean] or [is considered an acceptable spouse … is considered an acceptable spouse]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῷ ἀδελφῷ

the brother

Here, the brother refers to a believing man, in this case the believing husband. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the brother by clarifying that the brother is the unbelieving wife’s spouse. Alternate translation: [the husband]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary

ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν

Here, Otherwise refers to what the situation would be like if what Paul has just said were not true. Paul does not actually think that your children are unclean, but that would be true if he was wrong about the unbelieving spouse being sanctified. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Otherwise with a form that refers to a situation that the author thinks is not true. Alternate translation: [If that were not so, your children would be unclean]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

ὑμῶν

˱of˲_you_all

Here, your refers to anyone among the Corinthians who has an unbelieving spouse. Thus, it refers back to the wife and the brother. If your language would not use your in this situation, you could use their instead. Alternate translation: [their]

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν

now (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡγίασται Γάρ ὁ ἀνήρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί καί ἡγίασται ἡ γυνή ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ ἐπεί ἄρα τά τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτα ἐστίν νῦν δέ ἅγια ἐστίν)

Here, but now provides the contrast with Otherwise your children are unclean. The word now does not refer to time but rather identifies that what Paul has said about the unbelieving spouse being sanctified really is true. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express now with a word or phrase that identifies that what Paul has said is true. Alternate translation: [but since the unbelieving spouse is sanctified, they are holy]

Note 9 topic: translate-unknown

ἀκάθαρτά & ἅγιά

Here, holy is a reference to purity, and unclean is a reference to impurity. The word holy does not mean that the children are considered to be believers. Rather, Paul’s point is that the children are not made unclean by having an unbelieving parent. Just the opposite: the children are clean and pure because of the believing parent. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express unclean and holy with words or phrases that identify the children as those born in a “clean” or “honorable” way. Alternate translation: [not pure … pure] or [dishonored … honorable]

Parallel 1 COR 7:14