1 Corinthians 7:39-40
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The crucial, easily missed phrase here is "only in the Lord." It's not just about finding a new spouse; it's about ensuring that any new union is rooted in faith, honoring God's design for marriage even after loss. This implies a partner who shares her commitment to Christ, not just someone who fits her life.
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing questions the Corinthian church sent him about marriage, singleness, and divorce. He's just discussed the complexities of a believer married to an unbeliever, and now he's clarifying the permanence of marriage and the freedom that comes with a spouse's death, emphasizing that any new marriage should be within the Christian community.
Marriage is often seen as a contract, but the Bible speaks of a deeper, unbreakable tie. What does it truly mean for a wife to be 'bound' to her husband?
Paul begins by stating a foundational principle: 'A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives.' This isn't just a social custom; it reflects a divine intention for the marital union to be a lifelong commitment. The word 'bound' speaks to a deep, legal, and spiritual connection. It signifies a shared life and identity that death is the only legitimate dissolver of.
This bond emphasizes the seriousness and permanence God intends for marriage, reflecting His own faithful covenant with His people. It's a call to enduring love, commitment, and perseverance through all seasons of married life.
When the marital bond is broken by death, a door opens. But what guides the steps through that door?
The second part of the verse reveals a profound truth: 'But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes...' Death liberates the surviving spouse from the marriage bond. This freedom is significant, allowing for new beginnings and companionship. However, this freedom is not absolute. It comes with a crucial qualifier: 'only in the Lord.'
This means that any remarriage must be within the context of faith in Christ. It's a call to ensure that a new union honors God, reflects Christ's love for the church, and is built on a shared spiritual foundation. It’s about choosing a partner who is also committed to following Jesus, ensuring the new marriage is pleasing to God and mutually encouraging in faith.
Understand the original words
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dedetai · Greek Verb
To be legally or morally tied to an obligation, person, or covenantal commitment. It implies a binding relationship.
eleuthera · Greek Adjective
A state of release from previous legal, moral, or ritual obligations. In Christian theology, it refers to liberation from the law of sin and death or, in this context, from the marriage covenant upon a spouse's death.
en kyriō · Greek Prepositional Phrase
A standard or boundary indicating that Christian conduct, including marriage, must be consistent with the authority, character, and will of Jesus Christ.
pneuma · Greek Noun
The third person of the Trinity, who indwells, guides, empowers, and sanctifies the believer. The Spirit acts as the internal witness to the truth of God's Word.
Writing into a Roman society where divorce laws varied and remarriage was common, Paul grounds the believer's marital freedom not in cultural norms, but in the divine order of Christ's union with the Church.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The pivotal events of Christianity, forming the core beliefs of the early church and the foundation for Paul's teachings.
c. AD 33-36
Early Church Growth and Persecution
The Gospel spreads rapidly, leading to increasing tension and persecution of believers, including Saul of Tarsus (later Paul).
c. AD 41-53
Paul's Missionary Journeys
Paul travels extensively, planting churches in major cities across the Roman Empire, including Corinth.
c. AD 50-52
Founding of the Corinthian Church
Paul establishes the church in Corinth during his time there, facing significant social and cultural challenges.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Paul's Subsequent Travels and Letters
Paul continues his ministry, writing letters to churches he has planted, addressing various theological and practical issues.
c. AD 55
Writing of 1 Corinthians
Paul writes this letter from Ephesus in response to reports and questions from the Corinthian church, addressing divisions and ethical matters.
This passage directly parallels the idea that a wife is only bound to her husband while he is alive, illustrating the legal and relational bond that marriage creates.
Matthew 19:6Jesus echoes the permanence of marriage, stating 'what God has joined together, let not man separate,' which underscores the seriousness of the marital bond that is only dissolved by death, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians.
1 Timothy 5:14This verse advises younger widows to marry, manage their homes, and give no occasion for slander, which connects to the freedom mentioned in 1 Corinthians 7:39 for widows to remarry, but with a godly consideration.
Ephesians 5:31-33While focusing on the husband's role, this passage highlights the profound union of marriage as mirroring Christ and the church, emphasizing the deep commitment from which death is the only release.
The crucial, easily missed phrase here is "only in the Lord." It's not just about finding a new spouse; it's about ensuring that any new union is rooted in faith, honoring God's design for marriage even after loss. This implies a partner who shares her commitment to Christ, not just someone who fits her life.
Paul is addressing questions the Corinthian church sent him about marriage, singleness, and divorce. He's just discussed the complexities of a believer married to an unbeliever, and now he's clarifying the permanence of marriage and the freedom that comes with a spouse's death, emphasizing that any new marriage should be within the Christian community.
Paul is addressing questions the Corinthian church sent him about marriage, singleness, and divorce. He's just discussed the complexities of a believer married to an unbeliever, and now he's clarifying the permanence of marriage and the freedom that comes with a spouse's death, emphasizing that any new marriage should be within the Christian community.
"A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit…" — The crucial, easily missed phrase here is "only in the Lord." It's not just about finding a new spouse; it's about ensuring that any new union is rooted in faith, honoring God's design for marriage e…
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Last reviewed October 2026
