1 Corinthians 7:4
 1 Corinthians 7:4 
New International Version (©2011)
The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

English Standard Version (©2001)
For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does.

International Standard Version (©2012)
A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

NET Bible (©2006)
It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
A wife is not authorized over her body, but her husband is. In this way also a man is not authorized over his body, but his wife is.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
A wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
The wife has not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife.

American King James Version
The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife.

American Standard Version
The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Darby Bible Translation
The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife.

English Revised Version
The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

Webster's Bible Translation
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Weymouth New Testament
A married woman is not mistress of her own person: her husband has certain rights. In the same way a married man is not master of his own person: his wife has certain rights.

World English Bible
The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife.

Young's Literal Translation
the wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:1-9 The apostle tells the Corinthians that it was good, in that juncture of time, for Christians to keep themselves single. Yet he says that marriage, and the comforts of that state, are settled by Divine wisdom. Though none may break the law of God, yet that perfect rule leaves men at liberty to serve him in the way most suited to their powers and circumstances, of which others often are very unfit judges. All must determine for themselves, seeking counsel from God how they ought to act.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - The wife hath not power, Marriage is not a capricious union, but a holy bond. "They two" become "one flesh."


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The wife hath not power of her own body,.... To refrain the use of it from her husband; or to prostitute it to another man:

but the husband; he has the sole power over it, and may require when he pleases the use of it:

and likewise also the husband has not power over his own body: to withhold due benevolence, or the conjugal debt from his wife; or abuse it by self-pollution, fornication, adultery, sodomy, or any acts of uncleanness: but the wife; she only has a power over it, a right to it, and may claim the use of it: this power over each other's bodies is not such, as that they may, by consent, either the husband allow the wife, or the wife the husband, to lie with another.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4. A paradox. She hath not power over her body, and yet it is her own. The oneness of body in which marriage places husband and wife explains this. The one complements the other. Neither without the other realizes the perfect ideal of man.


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Teachings on Marriage
3Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband. 4The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife. 5Defraud you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. …

1 Corinthians 7:3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.