1 Corinthians 6:16 Meaning and Explanation
“What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Physical union creates a real bodily bond, just as Scripture says the two become one flesh.
What Does 1 Corinthians 6:16 Mean?
Paul reminds the Corinthians that sexual union is never casual. Citing Genesis, where the two become one flesh, he shows that joining oneself to another forges a genuine bond of the body, not a passing or meaningless act.
By quoting the creation account, Paul roots his teaching in God's original design for human intimacy. The one-flesh union was given as a gift within marriage, a profound joining of two lives. To take that bond outside its God-given place distorts something sacred. Paul wants the Corinthians to feel the weight of what they treat lightly: the body speaks a language of covenant, and it cannot be spoken falsely without harm.
1 Corinthians 6:16 in the Original Language
sarx (σάρξ), 'flesh' -- the physical body; 'one flesh' names the deep bodily union of two persons.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 6:16
What does 1 Corinthians 6:16 mean?
Physical union creates a real bodily bond, just as Scripture says the two become one flesh.