1 Corinthians 7:29

Tyndale New Testament

This saye I brethre the tyme is shorte. It remayneth that they which have wives be as though they had none

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
There ain't a whole lot of time left. Don't concern yourselves too much with things that are not eternal: marriage,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none;

Legacy Standard Bible
But this I say, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none;

Bible in Basic English
But I say this, my brothers, the time is short; and from now it will be wise for those who have wives to be as if they had them not;

Darby Translation
But this I say, brethren, the time is straitened. For the rest, that they who have wives, be as not having [any]:

Christian Standard Bible®
And I say this, brothers: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,

World English Bible
But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that even they that have wives, be as if they had none: And they that weep, as if they wept not;

Weymouth's New Testament
Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though they had none,

King James Version (1611)
But this I say, brethren, the time is short. It remaineth, that both they that haue wiues, be as though they had none:

Literal Translation
But I say this, brothers, that the time has been cut short. For the rest is, that even the ones having wives should be as not having,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Howbeit this I saye brethren: the tyme is shorte. Farthermore this is the meanynge, yt they which haue wyues, be as though they had none:

Mace New Testament (1729)
This I say, brethren, because the time is coming, when they who have wives will be as those that have none;

THE MESSAGE
I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don't complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple—in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.

Amplified Bible
But I say this, believers: the time has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they did not;

American Standard Version
But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

Revised Standard Version
I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,

Update Bible Version
But this I say, brothers, the time is shortened, that from now on both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

Webster's Bible Translation
But this I say, brethren, The time [is] short. It remaineth, that both they that have wives, be as though they had none;

Young's Literal Translation
And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened -- that both those having wives may be as not having;

New Century Version
Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: We do not have much time left. So starting now, those who have wives should live as if they had no wives.

New English Translation
And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none,

Berean Standard Bible
What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

Contemporary English Version
My friends, what I mean is that the Lord will soon come, and it won't matter if you are married or not.

Complete Jewish Bible
What I am saying, brothers, is that there is not much time left: from now on a man with a wife should live as if he had none —

English Standard Version
This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,

Geneva Bible (1587)
And this I say, brethren, because the time is short, hereafter that both they which haue wiues, be as though they had none:

George Lamsa Translation
But this I do say, my brethren, the time is short; let those who have wives be as though they had none;

Hebrew Names Version
But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;

International Standard Version
This is what I mean, brothers: The time has been shortened. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none,Romans 13:11; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:8-9;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And this I say, my brethren, that the time now becomes contracted; and they who have wives should be as not having them;

Murdock Translation
And this I say, my Brethren, that the time to come is short; so that they who have wives, should be as if they had none;

New King James Version
But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

New Living Translation
But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.

New Life Bible
I mean this, Christian brothers. The time is short. A married man should use his time as if he did not have a wife.

English Revised Version
But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

New Revised Standard
I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, this, I say - the opportunity is, contracted for what remaineth - in order that, they who have wives, may be, as though they had none,

Douay-Rheims Bible
This therefore I say, brethren: The time is short. It remaineth, that they also who have wives be as if they had none:

King James Version
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

Lexham English Bible
But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as if they do not have wives,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But this say I brethren, the tyme is short: It remayneth, that they which haue wyues, be as though they had none:

Easy-to-Read Version
Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: We don't have much time left. So starting now, those who have wives should be the same as those who don't.

New American Standard Bible
But this I say, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none;

Good News Translation
What I mean, my friends, is this: there is not much time left, and from now on married people should live as though they were not married;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But Y spare you. Therfor, britheren, Y seie this thing, The tyme is schort. Another is this, that thei that han wyues, be as thouy thei hadden noon;

Contextual Overview

²⁵ As concernynge virgins I have no comaundment of the lorde: yet geve I counsell as one that hath obtayned mercye of the lorde to be faythfull. ²⁶ I suppose that it is good for the present necessite. For it is good for a ma so to be. ²⁷ Arte thou bounde vnto a wyfe? seke not to be lowsed. Arte thou lowsed from a wyfe? seke not a wyfe. ²⁸ But and yf thou take a wyfe thou synnest not. Lykwyse if a virgin mary she synneth not. Neverthelesse soche shall have trouble in their flesshe: but I faver you. ²⁹ This saye I brethre the tyme is shorte. It remayneth that they which have wives be as though they had none ³⁰ and they that wepe be as though thy wept not: and they that reioyce be as though they reioysed not: and they that bye be as though they possessed not: ³¹ and they yt vse this worlde be as though they vsed it not. For the fassion of this worlde goeth awaye. ³² I wolde have you without care: the single man careth for the thinges of the lorde how he maye please the lorde. ³³ But he that hath maried careth for the thinges of the worlde howe he maye please his wyfe. ³⁴ There is differece bitwene a virgin and a wyfe. The single woman careth for the thinges of the lorde that she maye be pure both in body and also in sprete But she that is maryed careth for the thinges of the worlde how she maye please her husband.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the time: Job 14:1, Job 14:2, Psalms 39:4-7, Psalms 90:5-10, Psalms 103:15, Psalms 103:16, Ecclesiastes 6:12, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Romans 13:11, Romans 13:12, Hebrews 13:13, Hebrews 13:14, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:8, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 2:17

that both: Ecclesiastes 12:7, Ecclesiastes 12:8, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Isaiah 24:1, Isaiah 24:2, Isaiah 40:6-8, James 4:13-16, 1 Peter 1:24

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 24:5 - cheer up 2 Samuel 19:34 - How long have I to live Proverbs 23:5 - that which Ezekiel 7:12 - time Ezekiel 24:18 - and at Habakkuk 2:6 - how Matthew 22:30 - in the Matthew 24:38 - they Luke 14:20 - General John 6:27 - the meat Romans 10:19 - I say 1 Corinthians 1:12 - this 1 Corinthians 10:11 - upon 1 Corinthians 15:50 - this 2 Corinthians 9:6 - I say Galatians 3:17 - this Galatians 5:16 - I say Ephesians 5:16 - the days Philippians 4:5 - your Hebrews 4:6 - it remaineth Revelation 22:6 - which

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But this I say, brethren, the time is short,.... This is another reason, with which the apostle supports his advice to virgins, and unmarried persons, to remain so; since the time of life is so very short, and it is even but a little while to the end of the world, and second coming of Christ; and therefore seeing the marriage state is so full of care and trouble, and it affords still less time for the service of Christ and religion, he thought it most advisable for them to, continue in a single life, that they might be more at leisure to make use of that little time they had for their spiritual good and welfare, the edification of others, and the glory of Christ: unless it should be rather thought that the apostle is still enlarging upon the former argument, taken from the present time, being a time of distress and persecution; and so the phrase, "the time is short", or "contracted", and full of anguish and affliction, is the same with the present necessity, and trouble in the flesh; and since this was the case, he suggests again, that an unmarried state was most preferable:

it remaineth that both they that have wives, be as though they had none: and as for the rest, they that were married, his advice to them was, that they should so behave as if they were not married; not that he would have them put away their wives, or fancy with themselves that they had none, or make no use of the marriage bed; but suggests a moderate use of it; he would not have them give up themselves to lasciviousness and carnal lusts and pleasures, even with their own wives, and spend their time altogether in their company and embraces: but since the time of life was short, and that full of troubles, they should spend it in the service and worship of God, private and public, as much as possible; and not in the indulging and satisfying of the flesh.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But this I say - Whether you are married or not, or in whatever condition of life you may be, I would remind you that life hastens to a close, and that its grand business is to be prepared to die. It matters little in what condition or rank of life we are, if we are ready to depart to another and a better world.

The time is short - The time is “contracted,” “drawn into a narrow space” (συνεσταλμένος sunestalmenos). The word which is used here is commonly applied to the act of “furling” a sail, that is, reducing it into a narrow compass; and is then applied to anything that is reduced within narrow limits. Perhaps there was a reference here to the fact that the time was “contracted,” or made short, by their impending persecutions and trials. But it is always equally true that time is short. It will soon glide away, and come to a close. The idea of the apostle here is, that the plans of life should all be formed in view of this truth, that time is short. No plan should be adopted which does not contemplate this; no engagement of life made when it will not be appropriate to think of it; no connection entered into when the thought “time is short,” would be an unwelcome intruder; see 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:8-9.

It remaineth - (τὸ λοιπόν to loipon). The remainder is; or this is a consequence from this consideration of the shortness of time.

Both they that have wives ... - This does not mean that they are to treat them with unkindness or neglect, or fail in the duties of love and fidelity. It is to be taken in a general sense, that they were to live above the world; that they were not to be unduly attached to them that they were to be ready to part with them; and that they should not suffer attachment to them to interfere with any duty which they owed to God. They were in a world of trial; and they were exposed to persecution; and as Christians they were bound to live entirely to God, and they ought not, therefore, to allow attachment to earthly friends to alienate their affections from God, or to interfere with their Christian duty. In one word, they ought to be “just as faithful to God,” and “just as pious,” in every respect, as if they had no wife and no earthly friend. Such a consecration to God is difficult, but not impossible. Our earthly attachments and cares draw away our affections from God, but they need not do it. Instead of being the occasion of alienating our affections from God, they should be, and they might be, the means of binding us more firmly and entirely to him and to his cause. But alas, how many professing Christians live for their wives and children only, and not for God in these relations! how many suffer these earthly objects of attachment to alienate their minds from the ways and commandments of God, rather than make them the occasion of uniting them more tenderly to him and his cause!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 29. The time is short — These persecutions and distresses are at the door, and life itself will soon be run out. Even then Nero was plotting those grievous persecutions with which he not only afflicted, but devastated the Church of Christ.

They that have wives — Let none begin to think of any comfortable settlement for his family, let him sit loose to all earthly concerns, and stand ready prepared to escape for his life, or meet death, as the providence of God may permit. The husband will be dragged from the side of his wife to appear before the magistrates, and be required either to abjure Christ or die.

Linquenda tellus, et domus, et placens

Uxor; neque harum, quas colis, arborum

Te, praeter invisas cupressos,

Ulla brevem dominum sequetur.

HOR. ODAR. lib. ii., Od. xiv., v. 22.

Your pleasing consort must be left;

And you, of house and lands bereft,

Must to the shades descend:

The cypress only, hated tree!

Of all thy much-loved groves, shall thee,

Its short-lived lord, attend. FRANCIS.

Poor heathenism! thou couldst give but cold comfort in such circumstances as these: and infidelity, thy younger brother, is no better provided than thou.