1 Corinthians 7:39
 
1 Corinthians 7:39
(KJV) The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
(1611 KJV) The wife is bound by the Lawe as long as her husband liueth: but if her husband bee dead, shee is at liberty to bee maried to whom shee will, onely in the Lord.
(1587 Geneva Bible) The wife is bounde by the Lawe, as long as her husband liueth: but if her husband bee dead, shee is at libertie to marie with whome she will, onely in the Lord.
(1526 Tyndale) The wyfe is bounde to the lawe as longe as her husband liveth If her husbande slepe she is at liberte to mary with whom she wyll only in the lorde.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
(1901 ASV) A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
(CSB) A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord.
(NIV) A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
(NASV) A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
(THE MESSAGE) A wife must stay with her husband as long as he lives. If he dies, she is free to marry anyone she chooses. She will, of course, want to marry a believer and have the blessing of the Master.
(NLT) A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.
(ESV) 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.
(CEV) A wife should stay married to her husband until he dies. Then she is free to marry again, but only to a man who is a follower of the Lord.
(NCV) A woman must stay with her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry any man she wants, but she must marry another believer.
(HCSB) A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord.
(NIRV) A woman has to stay married to her husband as long as he lives. If he dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants to. But the one she marries must belong to the Lord.
(RSV) A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, provided that it be in the Lord.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) A wife is bound during all the time her husband is alive. But if her husband should fall asleep [in death], she is free to be married to whom she wants, only in [the] Lord.
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
γυνη δεδεται νομω εφ οσον χρονον ζη ο ανηρ αυτης εαν δε κοιμηθη ο ανηρ αυτης ελευθερα εστιν ω θελει γαμηθηναι μονον εν κυριω
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
γυνη δεδεται εφ οσον χρονον ζη ο ανηρ αυτης εαν δε κοιμηθη ο ανηρ ελευθερα εστιν ω θελει γαμηθηναι μονον εν κυριω
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit (corrected)
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (corrected)
L 020 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “by the law”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
 
Affected Teaching
The modern versions omit the fact that marriage is a covenant by removing the phrase “by the law.” When we were unbelievers we were under the law but when we became saved, we were freed from that law by the death of Christ who became our new husband. Previously, we were married to the law but when Christ went to the cross and died for His people, then we became dead to our first husband, the law, because Christ fulfilled all the requirements of God’s holy law and we became known as the Bride of Christ. Like the wife who is bound by the law to her first husband and then when her husband dies she is free to marry in the Lord, all are bound to the law of God but when one becomes saved they are freed from the demands of the law because Christ already fulfilled it. So the first marriage is a marriage of bondage to the law, but the second marriage is a marriage of freedom in grace. Not only must we born again, we must also be married again. Great truths are compromised because of one omitted phrase.

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