1 Corinthians 7:5

Contextual Overview

¹ Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. You asked if it is better for a man not to have any sexual relations at all. ¹ Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ As concerninge the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me: it is good for a ma not to touche a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things you wrote about: It's good for a man not to touch a woman.[fn]1 Corinthians 7:8,26;">[xr] ¹ Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things whereof you wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. ¹ Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

except: Exodus 19:15, 1 Samuel 21:4, 1 Samuel 21:5, Joel 2:16, Zechariah 7:3, Zechariah 12:12-14

that Satan: Matthew 19:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:5

Reciprocal: Numbers 30:13 - to afflict Ecclesiastes 3:5 - a time to embrace Matthew 6:16 - when Matthew 9:15 - and then Matthew 17:21 - but Mark 2:20 - and Luke 5:35 - and Acts 13:2 - fasted 1 Corinthians 7:35 - not 2 Corinthians 2:11 - General 2 Corinthians 6:5 - fastings 2 Corinthians 11:27 - fastings Galatians 6:1 - considering 2 Timothy 3:3 - incontinent

Cross-References

Genesis 6:22
Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

Genesis 6:22
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

Genesis 6:22
Noah did everything that God commanded him.

Genesis 6:22
And Noah did all that God commanded him—he did indeed.

Genesis 6:22
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Genesis 6:22
Thus Noah did. According to all that God commanded him, so he did.

Genesis 6:22
So Noah did this; according to all that God commanded him, that is what he did.

Genesis 6:22
Therfor Noe dide alle thingis whiche God comaundide to hym.

Genesis 6:22
And Noah doth according to all that God hath commanded him; so hath he done.

Genesis 6:22
So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Defraud ye not one the other,.... By withholding due benevolence, denying the use of the marriage bed, refusing to pay the conjugal debt, and which is called a "diminishing of her marriage duty", Exodus 21:10 where the Septuagint use the same word "defraud", as the apostle does here; it is what both have a right to, and therefore, if either party is denied, it is a piece of injustice, it is properly a defrauding; though with proper conditions, such as follow, it may be lawful for married persons to lie apart, and abstain from the use of the bed, but then it should never be done,

except it be with consent: because they have a mutual power over each other's bodies, and therefore the abstinence must be voluntary on each side; otherwise injury is done to the person that does not consent, who is deprived against will of just right; but if there is agreement, then there is no defrauding, because each give up their right; and such a voluntary abstinence is commended by the Jews z;

"everyone that lessens the use of the bed, lo, he, is praiseworthy; and he who does not make void, or, cause to cease the due benevolence, but מדעת אשתו, "by consent of his wife";''

i.e. he also is praiseworthy: another condition of this abstinence is that it be only for a time; which shall be agreed unto, and fixed by both parties; not for ever which would be contrary to the will of God; the institution and end of marriage, and of dangerous consequence to either party. The Jews allow of a vow of continency for a while; and which they limit to different persons; thus a,

"if a man by a vow excludes, wife from the use of the bed, the school of Shammai say it is for the space of two weeks, the school of Hillell say one week; scholars go out to learn the law, without leave of their wives, thirty days, workmen one week;''

which vow, for such a limited time, they seem to allow of, without mutual consent; and herein they disagree with the rule the apostle gives; and who further observes, the end to be had in view by such a voluntary separation for a time,

that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; not that this was necessary for the ordinary discharge of such service, as for private acts of devotion among themselves, and constant family prayer; but either when times of fasting and prayer on some emergent occasions were appointed by themselves, or by the church, or by the civil government on account of some extraordinary and momentous affairs; and this seems to be observed by the apostle, in agreement with the customs and rules of the Jewish nation, which forbid the use of the bed, as on their great and annual fast, the day of atonement b, so on their fasts appointed by the sanhedrim for obtaining of rain c: the word "fasting" is omitted in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, and so it is in the Alexandrian copy, two of Stephens's; and others: the apostle adds,

and come together again; to the same bed, and the use of it, and that for this reason,

that Satan tempt you not for your incontinence; for not having the gift of continency, should they pretend to keep apart long: Satan, who knows the temperament and disposition of men and women, may tempt them not only to hatred of, and quarrels with one another, but to impure lusts and desires, to fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness; a very good reason why, though abstinence from the marriage bed for a short time, by the consent of both parties, for religious purposes, may be lawful, yet ought not to be continued; since Satan may hereby get an advantage over them, and draw them into the commission of scandalous enormities. The Jews have a notion of Satan's being a tempter, and of his tempting men to various sins, which they should guard against, as idolatry, &c. So say they d,

"thou mayest not look after idolatry, according to Deuteronomy 4:19 and again, thou must take heed lest this be a cause of it to thee, ושטן יסית אותך, "and Satan tempt thee" to look after them, and do as they do:''

and again e, frequently should a man think

"upon the unity of the blessed God, lest there should be anything above or below, before him or behind him, or by him, and so, השטן מסיתו, "Satan tempt him", and he come into heresy.''

z Maimon. Hilch. Ishot, c. 21. sect. 11. a Misn. Cetubot, c. 5. sect. 6. b Misn. Yoma, c. 8. sect. 1. c Misn. Taanith, c. 1. sect. 6. d Mosis Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora, pr. neg. 14. e Mosis Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora, pr. neg. 15.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Defraud ye not ... - Of the right mentioned above. Withdraw not from the society of each other.

Except it be with consent - With a mutual understanding, that you may engage in the extraordinary duties of religion; compare Exodus 19:15.

And come together again ... - Even by mutual consent, the apostle would not have this separation to be perpetual, since it would expose them to many of the evils which the marriage relation was designed to avoid.

That Satan ... - That Satan take not advantage of you, and throw you into temptation, and fill you with thoughts and passions which the marriage compact was designed to remedy.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 7:5. Defraud ye not one the other — What ye owe thus to each other never refuse paying, unless by mutual consent; and let that be only for a certain time, when prudence dictates the temporary separation, or when some extraordinary spiritual occasion may render it mutually agreeable, in order that ye may fast and pray, and derive the greatest possible benefit from these duties by being enabled to wait on the Lord without distraction.

That Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. — It is most evident that the separations permitted by the Apostle, for he enjoins none, are only for a season, on extraordinary occasions; and that the persons may come together again, lest Satan, taking advantage of their matrimonial abstinence, might tempt either party to illicit commerce.

There are a multitude of rules prescribed in such cases by the rabbins, and indeed even by heathen writers; for this was a matter in which common sense could always judge; and under the direction of experience, heathens, as well as those favoured with Divine revelation, could see what was proper in all such cases.

Incontinence, εικρασια, want of strength to regulate one's desires or appetites; from α, negative, and κρατος, strength. It is remarkable that the apostle supposes that even this temporary continence might produce incontinence; and universal observation confirms the supposition.