What Does 1 Corinthians 7:38 Mean?
So then the one who gives her in marriage does well, but the one who does not give her in marriage does better.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.THE KEY
The verse calls arranging marriage good, then calls refraining better for a particular purpose, not morally wrong versus right.
THE MEANING
You can choose marriage without making a lesser or faithless choice: this verse calls it good. It also leaves room for remaining unmarried to serve with less distraction, calling that path better for that purpose. The comparison concerns fit to circumstance, not a person’s worth.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This verse does not teach that marriage is bad or that choosing it makes someone spiritually inferior. “Better” is not a blanket ranking of people; it compares paths.
THE ROOT
γαμίζων
gamizōn
GROWS FROM
γαμ-
gam-
Marriage and entering into marriage.
“gives her in marriage” in this verse is gamizōn. The Greek verb γαμίζων (gamizōn, giving in marriage) names the act of arranging a marriage. Its family includes γάμος (gámos, marriage) and γαμέω (gaméō, marry), so the verse weighs the marriage decision itself; its “better” does not make marriage bad.
ALSO GROWS
gámos: Marriage; wedding
γάμος
The same family names marriage itself, which is the choice the verse evaluates.
gaméō: To marry
γαμέω
This branch names entering marriage, connecting the arrangement in this verse to the marriage it brings about.
gambrós: Bridegroom; son-in-law
γαμβρός
The family also names a relationship formed through marriage, showing the range of the marriage word-family.
καλῶς
kalōs
GROWS FROM
καλ-
kal-
Good, beautiful, fitting, or commendable.
The word translated “well” is a positive judgment: arranging the marriage is fitting and commendable. The verse does not contrast bad with good; it contrasts this good choice with another described as better for its purpose.
ALSO GROWS
kalós: Good, beautiful, fitting, or commendable
καλός
This adjective is the source of “well,” grounding the first choice in a genuinely positive evaluation.
kállos: Beauty
κάλλος
This related word preserves the family’s sense of what is fitting or admirable, not merely permissible.
kallíōn: More beautiful; better
καλλίων
This comparative form shows how the same word-family can express a higher degree, while the verse’s separate word for “better” makes its comparison explicit.
ποιεῖ
poiei
GROWS FROM
ποιέω
poieō
To do, make, or bring about.
“doeth” in this verse is poiei. The same verb frames both choices: one “does” well, and the other “will do” better. The difference lies in how the choices are evaluated, not in one being an action of faithfulness and the other a failure.
ALSO GROWS
poiēma: Something made; workmanship
ποίημα
This branch makes the root’s sense of doing concrete: an action brings something about.
poiētēs: Maker; doer; poet
ποιητής
This branch names the one who acts, keeping attention on a person making a choice rather than on an abstract ranking.
THE PATTERN
Scripture can affirm marriage as good while leaving room for an unmarried path that suits some people and purposes.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and draws forth favor from the LORD.But he said to them, Not all make room for this word, but only those to whom it is given.I say this for what brings you together, not to throw a noose over you, but for what has good shape, and so that you may sit well beside the Lord, without being pulled around.THE THREAD
Marriage is precious among all, and the bed unstained, but God judges the sellers of bodies and the adulterers.Hebrews uses γάμος (gámos, marriage), from the same word-family as γαμίζων (gamizōn, giving in marriage). It calls marriage honourable, showing how this verse can call arranging marriage good while saying that, for a particular purpose, refraining is better.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us