1 Corinthians 7:6
New International Version
I say this as a concession, not as a command.

New Living Translation
I say this as a concession, not as a command.

English Standard Version
Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.

Berean Standard Bible
I say this as a concession, not as a command.

Berean Literal Bible
Now I say this by way of concession, not by way of command.

King James Bible
But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

New King James Version
But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.

New American Standard Bible
But this I say by way of concession, not of command.

NASB 1995
But this I say by way of concession, not of command.

NASB 1977
But this I say by way of concession, not of command.

Legacy Standard Bible
But this I say as a concession, not as a command.

Amplified Bible
But I am saying this as a concession, not as a command.

Christian Standard Bible
I say this as a concession, not as a command.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I say the following as a concession, not as a command.

American Standard Version
But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I say this as to the weak, not by commandment.

Contemporary English Version
In my opinion that is what should be done, though I don't know of anything the Lord said about this matter.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.

English Revised Version
But this I say by way of permission, not of commandment.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
What I have just said is not meant as a command but as a suggestion.

Good News Translation
I tell you this not as an order, but simply as a permission.

International Standard Version
But I say this as a concession, not as a command.

Literal Standard Version
and this I say by way of concurrence—not of command,

Majority Standard Bible
I say this as a concession, not as a command.

New American Bible
This I say by way of concession, however, not as a command.

NET Bible
I say this as a concession, not as a command.

New Revised Standard Version
This I say by way of concession, not of command.

New Heart English Bible
But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

Webster's Bible Translation
But I speak this by permission, and not as a commandment.

Weymouth New Testament
Thus much in the way of concession, not of command.

World English Bible
But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

Young's Literal Translation
and this I say by way of concurrence -- not of command,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Principles of Marriage
5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 7:10
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:12
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

1 Corinthians 7:25
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

1 Corinthians 7:40
In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

2 Corinthians 8:8
I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.


Treasury of Scripture

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

by.

1 Corinthians 7:12,25
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away…

2 Corinthians 8:8
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

2 Corinthians 11:17
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Jump to Previous
Command Commanding Commandment Concession Consenting Opinion Order Permission Speak Way
Jump to Next
Command Commanding Commandment Concession Consenting Opinion Order Permission Speak Way
1 Corinthians 7
1. He discusses marriage;
4. showing it to be a remedy against sinful desires,
10. and that the bond thereof ought not lightly to be dissolved.
20. Every man must be content with his vocation.
25. Virginity wherefore to be embraced;
35. and for what respects we may either marry, or abstain from marrying.














(6) But I speak this by permission.--Better, Now I say this as a permission, and not as a command. As the passage is given in our English version, it might seem as if the Apostle implied that he had no actual command, but only a permission to write this, which is not at all his meaning. What he does say is, that the foregoing instructions are not to be considered as absolute commands from him, but as general permissive instruction, to be applied by each individual according to circumstances.

It has been much discussed as to what part of the previous passage the word "this" refers. It is perhaps best to take it as referring to the leading thought of the whole passage, which is that marriage is allowable, expressed especially in 1Corinthians 7:2.

Verse 6. - I speak this. The "this" applies to his advice in general, but especially to the last verse. By permission. This phrase is generally misunderstood. It does not mean that St. Paul was permitted though not commanded to give this advice, but that his gentle advice was given "by way of permission" to Christians, not "by way of injunction." He means to say that he leaves the details of their lives, whether celibate or married, to their individual consciences, though with large hearted wisdom and charity he would emancipate them from human and unauthorized restrictions. The clause is not, therefore, a parallel to the restrictions on the authority of his utterances, such as we find in vers. 12, 29, 40, and in 2 Corinthians 8:10; 2 Corinthians 11:17.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I say
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

this
τοῦτο (touto)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

as
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

a concession,
συνγνώμην (syngnōmēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4774: Permission, indulgence, concession. From a compound of sun and ginosko; fellow knowledge, i.e. Concession.

not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

as
κατ’ (kat’)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

a command.
ἐπιταγήν (epitagēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2003: Instruction, command, order, authority. From epitasso; an injunction or decree; by implication, authoritativeness.


Links
1 Corinthians 7:6 NIV
1 Corinthians 7:6 NLT
1 Corinthians 7:6 ESV
1 Corinthians 7:6 NASB
1 Corinthians 7:6 KJV

1 Corinthians 7:6 BibleApps.com
1 Corinthians 7:6 Biblia Paralela
1 Corinthians 7:6 Chinese Bible
1 Corinthians 7:6 French Bible
1 Corinthians 7:6 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 7:6 But this I say by way (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 7:5
Top of Page
Top of Page