1 Corinthians7:36

Translation

However, if anyone wonders

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if he is acting improperly

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toward his virgin [daughter], and if she is past the bloom of youth, and it is to be done this way as payment of a debt

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let him do what he wishes, he does not sin. Let them marry.

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Paraphrase

However, if a father wonders if he has done the right thing by not finding a husband for his virgin daughter before this, and especially if she has passed the bloom of her youth, and if he feels obliged at this time to give her in marriage [despite the persecution that is imminent], he should do what he thinks is best for this situation; if he gives her in marriage right now it is not sin. He should let them get married.

Footnotes

1

The verb I have rendered as “wonders” means “to suppose, to consider, to think.”

2

This word comes from a root word meaning “improper form or shape.” This derivative of that root word means “to act improperly, inappropriately, dishonorably.”

3

This phrase includes the very common Greek verb “to be, become, come to pass, happen, finish, be done, to occur.” Here it is used in conjunction with the verb “to owe, to be indebted, to be obliged.”

4

This is the verb which means “to take in marriage, or to get married,”

WAS THIS REFERRING TO THE FATHER OF THE YOUNG LADY, OR TO A YOUNG MAN IN LOVE WITH THE YOUNG LADY?

Reasons some say this is referring to the man who is engaged to the virgin (according to the NET Bible):

  1. It seems odd to use the word “virgin” of one’s daughter
  2. The subjects of the verbs in vs 36 fit more readily with this view
  3. Some of the phrases are similar to those used in vs 9 and 28 of engaged couples (some include vs 39 in that list, but it is not an engaged couple).

Reasons others say this is referring to a father giving his daughter in marriage (according to the NET Bible):

  1. The Greek phrase “to keep his own virgin” (vs 37) fits a father better than a betrothed man.
  2. There are two verbs used; one means “to give in marriage” (used twice in the conclusion in vs 38) and the other means “to take a wife, or to marry” (used at the end of verse 36; it is also used twice in vs 28 and twice in vs 9, disarming the argument from those verses in favor of a betrothed man)
  3. The description of a father deciding whether or not to give his daughter in marriage fits the cultural setting a little better than a betrothed deciding to marry the young woman in question.

To these I add my own reasons:

To me it seems more appropriate for the options to be a father and one who wants to marry the young lady but is not yet engaged to her, rather than a father and the young man who is engaged to a young lady. Once they were engaged, the process had started and would be completed in time; this passage seems to be talking about a situation where the man involved had waited and waited and had not yet started the process.

  1. The Greek says “his virgin” in vs 36 and then “his own virgin” in vs 37. This does not sound right if applied to an engaged man or one who wants to be engaged. The girl was under the father’s care until the day of marriage. I don’t see any way in which a betrothed Jewish man would have said “my virgin.” It is more logical that the original text is leaving out a word to be assumed, as it often does – “his virgin [daughter]” which fits perfectly with a father’s situation. The emphasis is on the fact that she is a virgin, thus the word “daughter” does not need to be mentioned.
  2. The part about him ‘wondering if he is doing something inappropriate” fits perfectly with the father having waited this long, but if applied to a man that is engaged or wants to become engaged, what would he feel badly about? Waiting so long? Possibly, but the father has much to say about that too. When applied to a young man, the part about doing something inappropriate smack of sexual misconduct, but I don’t thing this is referring to sexual misconduct.
  3. Referring to the young woman as “past the bloom of youth” could fit with either the father or a young man, but I think it fits better with a father looking for a way to give his daughter in marriage, and thus fulfill his obligation to her. If it refers to the father it is associated with his wondering about whether he has done right by her or not; if it refers to a young man, the comment about being “past the bloom of youth” is disconnected from how the man feels about his actions thus far.
  4. The part of verse 37 that talks about the man being in total control, not responding to pressure, sounds like a father making that decision. If it is applied to the young man, the urgency of the decision seems to go against the ideas of being in control of himself and not feeling any pressure.
  5. The argument about the subjects of the verbs in verse 36 seems to be placing our grammatical rules upon the people of ancient times who did not always follow their own rules, much less ours. Actually I see ways in which interpreting that verse as a reference to a young man goes against the subjects of the verbs used. Therefore, either side can use that argument, making it a moot point.
  6. In this passage Paul is applying one general principle to several different situations. Those who say that Paul was talking about engaged people earlier, don’t realize that it means nothing here (vv 36-39). In fact, it seems like Paul has moved on to another group of people (fathers) and the change fits the passage perfectly.