Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Read the Bible

King James Version

1 Corinthians 7:16

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Divorce;   Husband;   Influence;   Marriage;   Wife;   Scofield Reference Index - Holy Spirit;   Thompson Chain Reference - Good;   Influence;   The Topic Concordance - Marriage;   Sanctification;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Husbands;   Missionaries, All Christians Should Be as;   Wives;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Wife;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Homosexuality;   Marriage;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Polygamy;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   1 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Marriage;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Example;   Marriage;   Salvation Save Saviour;   Unbelief;   Vows;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Corinthians;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - How;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Wives, maybe you will save your husband; and husbands, maybe you will save your wife. You don't know now what will happen later.
Revised Standard Version
Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For how knowest thou o woman whether thou shalt save that man or no? Other how knowest thou o man whether thou shalt save that woman or no?
Hebrew Names Version
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
International Standard Version
Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?1 Peter 3:1;">[xr]
New American Standard Bible
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
New Century Version
Wife, you don't know; maybe you will save your husband. And husband, you don't know; maybe you will save your wife.
Update Bible Version
For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you shall save your wife?
Webster's Bible Translation
For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?
English Standard Version
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
World English Bible
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For how knowest thou, O wife, but thou mayst save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, but thou mayst save thy wife?
Weymouth's New Testament
For what assurance have you, O woman, as to whether you will save your husband? Or what assurance have you, O man, as to whether you will save your wife?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And wherof wost thou, womman, if thou schalt make the man saaf; or wherof wost thou, man, if thou schalt make the womman saaf?
English Revised Version
For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Berean Standard Bible
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Contemporary English Version
And besides, how do you know if you will be able to save your husband or wife who isn't a follower?
Amplified Bible
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband [by leading him to Christ]? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife [by leading her to Christ]?
American Standard Version
For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Bible in Basic English
For how may you be certain, O wife, that you will not be the cause of salvation to your husband? or you, O husband, that you may not do the same for your wife?
Complete Jewish Bible
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Darby Translation
For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?
Etheridge Translation
For how knowest thou, wife, whether thou mayest save thy husband ? Or knowest thou, man, if thy wife thou mayest save ?
Murdock Translation
For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou wilt procure life to thy husband? Or, thou husband, knowest thou, whether thou wilt procure life to thy wife?
King James Version (1611)
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt saue thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt saue thy wife?
New Living Translation
Don't you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don't you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?
New Life Bible
Christian wife, how do you know you will not help your husband to become a Christian? Or Christian husband, how do you know you will not help your wife to become a Christian?
New Revised Standard
Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt saue thine husband? Or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt saue thy wife?
George Lamsa Translation
For how do you know, O wife, that you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, that you shall save your wife?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For how knowest thou, O woman, whether, thy husband, thou shalt save? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether, thy wife, thou shalt save?
Douay-Rheims Bible
For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For howe knowest thou O woman, whether thou shalt saue thy husbande? or how knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt saue thy wyfe?
Good News Translation
How can you be sure, Christian wife, that you will not save your husband? Or how can you be sure, Christian husband, that you will not save your wife?
Christian Standard Bible®
Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.
Lexham English Bible
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Literal Translation
For what do you know, wife, whether you will save the husband? Or what do you know, husband, whether you will save the wife?
Young's Literal Translation
for what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For what knowest thou O woma, whether thou shalt saue ye ma? Or what knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt saue the woman?
Mace New Testament (1729)
O wife, but you may save your husband? or how do you know, O man, but you may save your wife?
New English Translation
For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?
New King James Version
For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't forget though that an unbelieving husband might be saved because of the believing wife and vice versa.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Legacy Standard Bible
For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Contextual Overview

10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 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. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

O wife: 1 Corinthians 9:22, Proverbs 11:30, Luke 15:10, 1 Timothy 4:16, James 5:19, James 5:20, 1 Peter 3:1, 1 Peter 3:2

how: Gr. what

Reciprocal: Micah 6:8 - O man Romans 2:1 - O man Romans 9:20 - O man Romans 11:14 - by 1 Corinthians 9:19 - that

Cross-References

Genesis 7:1
And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Genesis 7:2
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
Genesis 7:3
Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
Genesis 7:4
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
Genesis 7:5
And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.
Genesis 7:10
And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Psalms 46:2
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Proverbs 3:23
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
Matthew 25:10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For what knowest thou, O wife,.... These words may be understood, as containing a reason either why the believing party should be easy at the departure of the unbeliever, after all proper methods have been used in vain to retain him or her; taken from the uncertainty and improbability of being of any use to them, to bring them to the knowledge of Christ, and salvation by him; "for what knowest thou, O wife"; thou dost not know, thou canst not know, thou canst not be sure,

whether thou shall save thy husband? be the means of bringing of him under the means of grace, and so of his conversion and salvation; there is no likelihood of it, since he is such an implacable enemy to Christ, and so bitterly averse to the Gospel, and the ordinances of it; and therefore since he is determined to separate, even let him go: or else, as rendering a reason why the believer should seek for peace and reconciliation, and by all means, if possible, continue to dwell with the unbeliever; taken from hopes of being serviceable under a divine influence and blessing, for their spiritual and eternal good, the wife for the good of the husband; by whose conversation he may be won over, and prevailed upon to entertain a better opinion of the Christian religion; to take a liking to the Gospel, and to attend upon the ministry of the word, which may be made the power of God unto salvation to him:

or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shall save thy wife; this may possibly be done, in the same manner as now suggested: persons in such a relation have often great influence upon one another, and are by divine Providence often great blessings to each other, in things spiritual as well as temporal. This puts me in mind of a case related by the Jewish doctors a:

"it happened to a holy man that he married a holy woman, and they had no children; say they, we are of no manner of profit to the blessed God; they stood up and divorced one another; he went and married a wicked woman, and she made him wicked; she went and married a wicked man,

ועשתה אותו צדיק "and she made him righteous";''

or, to use the apostle's phrase, "saved him".

a Bereshit Rabba, sect. 17. fol. 14. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For what knowest thou ... - The apostle here assigns a reason why the believing party should not separate from the other needlessly, or why he should not desire to be separated. The reason is, the possibility, or the probability, that the unbelieving party might be converted by the example and entreaties of the other.

Whether then ... - How do you know “but” this may be done? Is there not a possibility, nay a probability of it, and is not this a sufficient reason for continuing together?

Save thy husband - Gain him over to the Christian faith; be the means of his conversion and salvation. compare Romans 11:26. We learn from this verse:

(1) That there is a possibility that an unbelieving partner in life may be converted by the example of the other.

(2) That this should be an object of intense interest to the Christian husband or wife, because:

  1. It will promote the happiness of the other;
    1. It will promote their usefulness;
    2. It will be the means of blessing their family, for parents should be united on the subject of religion, and in their example and influence in training up their sons and daughters; and,
    3. Because the salvation of a beloved husband or wife should be an object of intense interest,

(3) This object is of so much importance that the Christian should be willing to submit to much, to bear much, and to bear long, in order that it may be accomplished. Paul said that it was desirable even to live with a pagan partner to do it; and so also it is desirable to bear much, very much, with even an unkind and fretful temper, with an unfaithful and even an intemperate husband, or with a perverse and peevish wife, if there is a prospect that they may be converted.

(4) This same direction is elsewhere given; 1 Peter 3:1-2.

(5) It is often done. It is not hopeless. Many a wife has thus been the means of saving a husband; many a husband has been the means of the salvation of the wife - In regard to the means by which this is to be hoped for, we may observe that it is not by a harsh, fretful, complaining temper; it is to be by kindness, and tenderness, and love. It is to be by an exemplification of the excellency of religion by example; by patience when provoked, meekness when injured, love when despised, forbearance when words of harshness and irritation are used, and by showing how a Christian can live, and what is the true nature of religion; by kind and affectionate conversation when alone, when the heart is tender, when calamities visit the family, and when the thoughts are drawn along by the events of Providence toward death. Not by harshness or severity of manner, is the result to be hoped for, but by tender entreaty, and mildness of life, and by prayer. Pre eminently this is to be used. When a husband will not hear, God can hear; when he is angry, morose, or unkind, God is gentle, tender, and kind; and when a husband or a wife turn away from the voice of gentle entreaty, God’s ear is open, and God is ready to hear and to bless. Let one thing guide the life. We are never to cease to set a Christian example; never to cease to live as a Christian should live; never to cease to pray fervently to the God of grace, that the partner of our lives may be brought under the full influence of Christian truth, and meet us in the enjoyments of heaven.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 7:16. For what knowest thou, O wife — You that are Christians, and who have heathen partners, do not give them up because they are such, for you may become the means of saving them unto eternal life. Bear your cross, and look up to God, and he may give your unbelieving husband or wife to your prayers.


 
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