Scriptural directions for husbands, annotated—1 Corinthians 7:27

This translation is from the New American Standard Bible. Several other translations are available here.

 

Excerpts from definitions of what seem to be key the Greek words are set out following the scriptural text. The sources are hyperlinked.

 

That is followed by excerpts from the scriptural texts that tell us what about God or His ways, what we should do, and what we should not do. 

 

That is followed by commentary, in blue. The commentary is my own, so it is not entitled to any particular weight.

 

Scriptural Text

1 Corinthians 7:27

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. 

 

Definitions

bound = δέω = deō

Blue Letter Bible

Any sort of binding; to bind tie, fasten;to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains; to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc.;be in bonds

 

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon 

bind, tie, fetter; bind, keep in bonds; enchain; harden, brace up;bind, tie, put on oneself

 

released = λύω = lyō  λύσις

Blue Letter Bible

“to loosen,” especially by way of deliverance; sometimes has the meaning of “breaking, destructively;” to loose, dissolve, sever, break, demolish; unbind, release; to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free; to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together; to annul, subvert; to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept or act; melt; to dismiss, break up

 

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon

loosing, ransoming; deliverance; discharge; loosing, parting; dissolution; emptying, evacuation

 

What this passage tells us

What this passage tells us not to do:

Do not seek to be released

 

Commentary

This is consistent with Malachi’s and Jesus’ strong prohibitions of divorce. See Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3-9.

 

The idea here seems to be not give into the temptation to divorce, even if it seems like a release/deliverance/freeing from a difficult situation.

 

·     I wonder if that also instructs against simply withdrawing from your spouse, even though you are still married? My guess is that it does. Such withdrawal would cause the type of strains discussed in connection with Matthew 19:3-9.