But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

1 CORINTHIANS 7:12KJV
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1 Corinthians 7:12 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 7:12 mean?

1 Corinthians 7:12 addresses a marriage in which the husband is a Christian and his wife is not. Paul tells the husband not to divorce her if she is willing to continue living with him. Her different belief is not, by itself, a reason for him to end the marriage.

Paul introduces the instruction with “speak I, not the Lord.” After referring to the Lord’s instruction in the preceding verses, Paul now gives his own instruction for the situation he describes here.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 7:12

  • “pleased” — συνευδοκέω (syneudokeō): The Greek carries the sense of agreeing or being willing. Here it describes the wife’s willingness to continue living with her husband.
  • “put her away” — ἀφίημι (aphiēmi): The word can mean to send away or release. In this marriage setting, the phrase refers to divorce.

Why 1 Corinthians 7:12 matters

  • Paul’s words “not the Lord” distinguish the source of this particular instruction. He marks it as his own rather than presenting it as a direct saying from the Lord.
  • The instruction depends on the wife’s willingness to stay: “if … she be pleased to dwell with him.” Paul later addresses a different situation, in which an unbelieving spouse chooses to leave (verse 15).
  • The passage treats the situation from both sides of a marriage. Verse 13 gives the corresponding instruction to a believing wife whose husband does not believe and is willing to live with her.

Where else these words appear

“pleased” Greek G4909 · used in 6 verses

  • Luke 11:48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
  • Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
  • Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

“dwell” Greek G3611 · used in 9 verses

  • Romans 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
  • Romans 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

“not” Greek G571 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

“rest” Greek G3062 · used in 41 verses

  • Matthew 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
  • Acts 17:9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
  • Philippians 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;