1 Corinthians 7:12

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

To the rest I say– I, not the Lord– if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Cor 11:17 : 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.
  • 1 Cor 7:6 : 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.
  • 1 Cor 7:25 : 25 Remaining Unmarried With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.
  • Ezra 10:2-3 : 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra:“We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the local peoples. Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard. 3 Therefore let us enact a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, and that of those who respect the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law.
  • Ezra 10:11-19 : 11 Now give praise to the LORD God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the local residents and from these foreign wives.” 12 All the assembly replied in a loud voice:“We will do just as you have said! 13 However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season. We are unable to stand here outside. Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter. 14 Let our leaders take steps on behalf of all the assembly. Let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at an appointed time, and with them the elders of each town and its judges, until the hot anger of our God is turned away from us in this matter.” 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were against this, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite. 16 So the exiles proceeded accordingly. Ezra the priest separated out by name men who were leaders in their family groups. They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month, 17 and on the first day of the first month they finished considering all the men who had married foreign wives. 18 Those Who Had Taken Foreign Wives It was determined that from the descendants of the priests, the following had taken foreign wives: from the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 (They gave their word to send away their wives; their guilt offering was a ram from the flock for their guilt.)

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 1 Cor 7:13-17
    5 verses
    90%

    13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him.

    14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

    15But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace.

    16For 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?

    17The Circumstances of Your Calling Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches.

  • 1 Cor 7:1-11
    11 verses
    86%

    1Celibacy and Marriage Now with regard to the issues you wrote about:“It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

    2But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband.

    3A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband.

    4It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife.

    5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

    6I say this as a concession, not as a command.

    7I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.

    8To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.

    9But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

    10To the married I give this command– not I, but the Lord– a wife should not divorce a husband

    11(but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.

  • 1 Cor 7:24-29
    6 verses
    75%

    24In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God.

    25Remaining Unmarried With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.

    26Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are.

    27The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage.

    28But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems.

    29And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none,

  • 1 Cor 7:32-40
    9 verses
    74%

    32And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

    33But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife,

    34and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.

    35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.

    36If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.

    37But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well.

    38So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.

    39A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes(only someone in the Lord).

    40But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is– and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!

  • Rom 7:2-3
    2 verses
    73%

    2For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage.

    3So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.

  • Matt 19:9-10
    2 verses
    70%

    9Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”

    10The disciples said to him,“If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!”

  • Matt 22:25
    70%

    25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother.

  • Mark 10:11-12
    2 verses
    69%

    11So he told them,“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.

    12And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

  • 2 Cor 6:14-15
    2 verses
    69%

    14Unequal Partners Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

    15And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?

  • Deut 25:7
    69%

    7But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, then she must go to the elders at the town gate and say,“My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel; he is unwilling to perform the duty of a brother-in-law to me!”

  • Mark 10:7
    68%

    7For this reason a man will leave his father and mother,

  • 1 Cor 9:5
    68%

    5Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

  • 1 Tim 5:16
    68%

    16If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.

  • 1 Pet 3:1
    68%

    1Wives and Husbands In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,

  • Num 30:11
    68%

    11and her husband heard about it, but remained silent about her, and did not overrule her, then all her vows will stand, and every obligation which she pledged for herself will stand.

  • Mark 12:20
    67%

    20There were seven brothers. The first one married, and when he died he had no children.

  • Deut 24:1-2
    2 verses
    67%

    1If a man marries a woman and she does not please him because he has found something indecent in her, then he may draw up a divorce document, give it to her, and evict her from his house.

    2When she has left him she may go and become someone else’s wife.

  • Eph 5:32
    67%

    32This mystery is great– but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church.