1 Corinthians 7:16 Meaning and Explanation
“For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A believing spouse cannot be certain whether staying will lead the other to salvation, so the outcome is left in God's hands.
What Does 1 Corinthians 7:16 Mean?
Paul addresses the believer tenderly, by direct address -- "O wife," "O man." The question cuts both ways. You cannot know for certain that remaining will save your spouse, nor that it will not. The future is hidden.
This gentle uncertainty guards against two errors: clinging to a doomed marriage out of presumption, and abandoning a hopeful one out of despair. The believer is not the savior; God is. One can love, pray, and witness, then leave the harvest to him. Whether the spouse stays or goes, the believer walks in peace, trusting the One who alone can save.
1 Corinthians 7:16 in the Original Language
sozo (σῴζω), 'save' -- to rescue and make whole, deliver unto salvation.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 7:16
What does 1 Corinthians 7:16 mean?
A believing spouse cannot be certain whether staying will lead the other to salvation, so the outcome is left in God's hands.