What Does 1 Corinthians 7:32 Mean in the King James?
But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The same Greek word family holds both freedom from anxiety and care for the Lord, so release from worry does not mean indifference.
THE MEANING
Unmarried life holds a particular freedom: concern can gather around what belongs to the Lord and how to please him. The verse distinguishes anxious care from attention that is deeply engaged.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that being free from anxiety means caring about nothing.
THE ROOT
ἀμερίμνους
amerimnous
GROWS FROM
μεριμν-
merimn-
Concern or anxiety; the verse uses forms from the same word family in contrast.
“without carefulness / careth” in this verse is amerimnous. The opening phrase says to be free from anxiety; the next clause uses the same word family for the unmarried person’s concern for the Lord’s things. The distinction is not between caring and not caring, but between anxiety and directed concern.
ALSO GROWS
amerimnous: without anxiety or care
ἀμερίμνους
This is the freedom named at the start of the verse.
merimna: is concerned for, cares about
μεριμνᾷ
This is the concern that remains, now directed toward the Lord and what pleases him.
THE PATTERN
Freedom from anxiety does not erase concern; it gathers attention around what matters.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.THE THREAD
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.The Greek word family behind “care” here appears twice in this verse: care is cast upon God, and God cares for you. The shared root shows concern being held and redirected, not erased.
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