1 Corinthians 7:36 Meaning and Explanation
“But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If circumstances make marriage the fitting course, going forward with it is no sin; let them marry.
What Does 1 Corinthians 7:36 Mean?
Paul addresses a delicate situation involving a man responsible for an unmarried woman in his care. If withholding marriage would be unfitting, and need requires it, then he should act freely -- it is no sin. Let the marriage take place.
Paul refuses to lay guilt on those for whom marriage is the right and honorable path. His counsel toward singleness was never a rule binding everyone. Where love and circumstance call for marriage, the believer is free to choose it with a clear conscience. Paul keeps returning to the same generous principle: in these matters, both paths are open, and neither is sin.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 7:36
What does 1 Corinthians 7:36 mean?
If circumstances make marriage the fitting course, going forward with it is no sin; let them marry.