Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 7:16
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church regarding mixed-faith marriages where an unbelieving spouse remains in the union. He addresses both husbands and wives directly while addressing their marital status and spiritual uncertainty.
The words — οἶδας (oidas) translates literally as "you know" and σώσεις (sōseis) means "you will save." Paul uses these verbs to frame the believer’s lack of certainty regarding the unbelieving spouse’s ultimate spiritual state.
The thread — The theme of a believer’s uncertain influence over an unbelieving spouse appears in 1 Peter 3:1, where wives are instructed to win husbands through conduct. Paul echoes a similar missionary posture in 1 Corinthians 9:22, where he adapts his approach to win others.
Why it lands — The text demands that believers stop presuming their marriage will automatically secure their spouse’s salvation. Readers must accept spiritual uncertainty while remaining faithful to their current calling.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
- Romans 11:14 in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
- Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
- 1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- James 5:19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
- Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.