1 Corinthians 7:16

Verse

How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

American Standard Version (1901)

For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Bible in Basic English

For how may you be certain, O wife, that you will not be the cause of salvation to your husband? or you, O husband, that you may not do the same for your wife?

Douay-Rheims 1899

For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Free Bible Version

Wives, who knows? You may save your husband! Husbands, who knows? You may save your wife!

Geneva Bible 1599

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt saue thine husband? Or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt saue thy wife?

King James (Authorized) Version

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Plain English Version

Listen, Christian wife, maybe you can help your husband turn around and let God save him. And listen, Christian husband, maybe you can help your wife turn around and let God save her.

Translation for Translators

You women believers should allow your unbelieving spouses to leave you if they want to, because there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your husband if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your husband if you stay together.) Similarly, you men who are believers, there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your wives if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your wives if you stay together.)

Unlocked Literal Bible

For how do you know, woman, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, man, whether you will save your wife?

Noah Webster Bible

For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

World English Bible

For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Young's Literal Translation

for what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?

Context

Principles of Marriage

¹⁵But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.¹⁶How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Sermons

John 10:22-42

St. John Chrysostom

But the Great Question Remains: How Shall We Win Our Loved Ones to Christ?

Arthur Vess

Summary

This verse highlights the potential for a believing spouse to positively influence their unbelieving partner, leading to the sanctification and potential salvation of the unbeliever. It underscores the importance of maintaining the marriage relationship even when there are differences in faith, as the presence of a believer in the household can bring spiritual blessings to the entire family. The verse encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith and commitment to their marriage, trusting in God's ability to work through their influence for the benefit of their spouse and family.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

For what knowest thou, O wife - You that are Christians, and who have heathen partners, do not give them up because they are such, for you may become the means of saving them unto eternal life. Bear your cross, and look up to God, and he may give your unbelieving husband or wife to your prayers.

John Gill Bible Commentary

For what knowest thou, O wife,.... These words may be understood, as containing a reason either why the believing party should be easy at the departure of the unbeliever, after all proper methods have been used in vain to retain him or her; taken from the uncertainty and improbability of being of any use to them, to bring them to the knowledge of Christ, and salvation by him; "for what knowest thou, O wife"; thou dost not know, thou canst not know, thou canst not be sure, whether thou shall save thy husband? be the means of bringing of him under the means of grace, and so of his conversion and salvation; there is no likelihood of it, since he is such an implacable enemy to Christ, and so bitterly averse to the Gospel, and the ordinances of it; and therefore since he is determined to separate, even let him go: or else, as rendering a reason why the believer should seek for peace and reconciliation, and by all means, if possible, continue to dwell with the unbeliever; taken from hopes of being serviceable under a divine influence and blessing, for their spiritual and eternal good, the wife for the good of the husband; by whose conversation he may be won over, and prevailed upon to entertain a better opinion of the Christian religion; to take a liking to the Gospel, and to attend upon the ministry of the word, which may be made the power of God unto salvation to him: or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shall save thy wife; this may possibly be done, in the same manner as now suggested: persons in such a relation have often great influence upon one another, and are by divine Providence often great blessings to each other, in things spiritual as well as temporal. This puts me in mind of a case related by the Jewish doctors (a): "it happened to a holy man that he married a holy woman, and they had no children; say they, we are of no manner of profit to the blessed God; they stood up and divorced one another; he went and married a wicked woman, and she made him wicked; she went and married a wicked man, "and she made him righteous";'' or, to use the apostle's phrase, "saved him". (a) Bereshit Rabba, sect. 17. fol. 14. 4.