"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 …" — 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.”

— 1 Corinthians 7:39

Verse 38

So then he that giveth {her} in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth {her} not in marriage doeth better.

Verse 40

But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7 — Context

Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

So then he that giveth {her} in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth {her} not in marriage doeth better.

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.

But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Cross References

Romans 7:2-3

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to {her} husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of {her} husband.

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

1 Corinthians 7:10

And unto the married I command, {yet} not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from {her} husband:

1 Corinthians 7:15

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such {cases}: but God hath called us to peace. {to peace: Gr. in peace}

Malachi 2:11

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. {loved: or, ought to love}

Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Genesis 6:2

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they {were} fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.