The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 7:5 Explained

1 Corinthians 7:5

KJV: Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

YLT: Defraud not one another, except by consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your incontinence;

Darby: Defraud not one another, unless, it may be, by consent for a time, that ye may devote yourselves to prayer, and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

ASV: Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Defraud ye  not  one the other,  except  [it be]  with  consent  for  a time,  that  ye may give yourselves  to fasting  and  prayer;  and  come  together  again,  that  Satan  tempt  you  not  for  your  incontinency. 

What does 1 Corinthians 7:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Evidently the Corinthians, at least some of them, had concluded that since they were "spiritual" they did not need to continue to have sexual relations as husband and wife. Another less probable situation, I think, is that there were some married Christians in the church who were overreacting to the immorality in Corinth by abstaining from sexual relations with their mates. For whatever reason, Paul viewed this as depriving one another of their normal sexual needs and urged them to stop doing it. Husbands and wives should commit themselves to honoring the spirit of mutual ownership that these verses describe.
There are legitimate reasons for temporary abstinence, but couples should temporarily abstain only with the agreement of both partners. When there are greater needs, spiritual needs, the couple may want to set aside their normal physical needs. However they should only do so temporarily. Laying aside eating (fasting) or sleeping (watching) temporarily to engage in more important spiritual duties (e.g, prayer) is similar.
"Three conditions are required for lawful abstention: it must be by mutual consent, for a good object, and temporary." [1]
Normally we think of sexual activity as an indication of lack of self-control, but Paul also viewed the failure to engage in sex as a lack of self-control for a married person.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 7:1-14 - Marriage Bonds
The Apostle first addresses the unmarried, 1 Corinthians 7:1, etc. He speaks elsewhere reverently of marriage, Ephesians 5:23. Forbidding to marry is in his judgment a symptom of apostasy, 1 Timothy 4:1-3. His recommendations here were evidently due to the special circumstances of that difficult and perilous time. The loftiest conception of marriage is the wedding of two souls, each of which, has found its affinity; the Apostle is treating here the only conception of marriage entertained by these recent converts from paganism. He deals with them on their own level, with the determination of ultimately leading them to view marriage from Christ's standpoint. It is often well to fast from lawful things, that we may surrender ourselves more absolutely to the Spirit of God.
In addressing the married, 1 Corinthians 7:10, etc., Paul is not dealing with the formation of marriage ties; they are settled by 2 Corinthians 6:14. He is deciding what course shall be followed, when either a husband or a wife has become a Christian, the other remaining unchanged. He decides that the Christian should not separate, so long as the unbelieving partner is willing to continue their life together. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 7:5

Except it be by consent for a season [ει μητι αν εκ συμπωνου προς καιρον]
If αν — an is genuine, it can either be regarded as like εαν — ean though without a verb or as loosely added after ει μητι — ei mēti and construed with it. [source]
That ye may give yourselves unto prayer [ινα σχολασητε τηι προσευχηι]
First aorist active subjunctive of σχολαζω — scholazō late verb from σχολη — scholē leisure (our “school”), and so to have leisure (punctiliar act and not permanent) for prayer. Note private devotions here. That Satan tempt you not (ινα μη πειραζηι — hina mē peirazēi). Present subjunctive, that Satan may not keep on tempting you. Because of your incontinency A late word from Aristotle on for ακρατεια — akrateia from ακρατης — akratēs (without self-control, α — a privative and κρατεω — krateō to control, common old word). In N.T. only here and Matthew 23:25 which see. [source]
That Satan tempt you not [ινα μη πειραζηι]
Present subjunctive, that Satan may not keep on tempting you. [source]
Because of your incontinency [δια την ακρασιαν υμων]
A late word from Aristotle on for ακρατεια — akrateia from ακρατης — akratēs (without self-control, α — a privative and κρατεω — krateō to control, common old word). In N.T. only here and Matthew 23:25 which see. [source]
May give yourselves [σχολάσητε]
Lit., may have leisure. Like the Latin phrase vacaare rei to be free for a thing, and so to devote one's self to it. [source]
Incontinency [ἀκρασίαν]
Only here and Matthew 23:35, on which see note. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 7:5

1 Corinthians 6:7 Suffer yourselves to be defrauded [ἀποστερεῖσθε]
Rev., more literally, “why not rather be defrauded? ” In classical Greek the word means, 1. to rob or despoil. 2. to detach or withdraw one's self from a person or thing. Ἁποστερεῖν ἑαυτόν was a regular phrase for separation from civic life. So Oedipus says: “I, noblest of the sons of Thebes, have cut myself off ( ἀπεστέρης ἐμαυτόν . Sophocles, “Oedipus Tyrannus,” 1381). 3. To withhold or avert. So Io to Prometheus: “Do not, after proffering me a benefit, withhold it” (“Prometheus,” 796). The maidens say: “May King Zeus avert the hateful marriage” (Aeschylus, “Suppliants,” 1063). In the New Testament the word occurs five times. In Mark 10:19, defraud not is apparently Mark's rendering of the tenth commandment. According to the inner meaning of the commandment as conceived by Jesus, the coveting of another's goods is, in heart, a depriving him of them. In 1 Corinthians 7:5it is used of connubial relations. In 1 Timothy 6:5, of those who are deprived or destitute of the truth. Dr. Morison, on Mark 10:19, justly observes that defraud is too narrow a rendering. The word means rather “to deprive of what is one's due, whether by 'hook,' 'crook,' or force, or in any other way.” [source]
1 Corinthians 1:10 Divisions [σχίσματα]
See on John 10:19. In classical Greek used only of actual rents in material. So in Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21. In the sense of discord, see John 7:43; John 9:16; John 10:19. Here, faction, for which the classical word is στάσις :division within the christian community. The divisions of the Corinthian church arose on questions of marriage and food (1 Corinthians 7:3, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 1 Corinthians 7:12); on eating, meat offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 10:20); on the comparative value of spiritual endowments, such as speaking with “tongues” (14); on the privileges and demeanor of women in the assemblies for worship (1 Corinthians 11:5-15); on the relations of the rich and the poor in the agape or love-feasts (1 Corinthians 11:17-22); and on the prerogatives of the different christian teachers (1 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Corinthians 1:13; 3:3-22). [source]
1 Corinthians 7:17 Only [ει μη]
This use of ει μη — ei mē as an elliptical condition is very common (1 Corinthians 7:5; Galatians 1:7, Galatians 1:19; Romans 14:14), “except that” like πλην — plēn Paul gives a general principle as a limitation to what he has just said in 1 Corinthians 7:15. “It states the general principle which determines these questions about marriage, and this is afterwards illustrated by the cases of circumcision and slavery” (Robertson and Plummer). He has said that there is to be no compulsory slavery between the believer and the disbeliever (the Christian and the pagan). But on the other hand there is to be no reckless abuse of this liberty, no license. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:15 Concord [συμφώνησις]
Only here in the New Testament. From σύν together φωνή voicePrimarily of the concord of sounds. So the kindred συφωνία , A.V., music, see on Luke 15:25. Compare σύμφωνος withconsent, 1 Corinthians 7:5; and συμφωνέω toagree, Matthew 18:19; Luke 5:36, etc. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:17 For a short time [πρὸς καιρὸν ὥρας]
N.T.oLit. for the season of an hour. Comp. Lat. horae momentum. Stronger than the usual phrase πρὸς ὥραν foran hour: see 2 Corinthians 7:8; Galatians 2:5; Philemon 1:15. Comp. πρὸς καιρὸν fora season, Luke 8:13; 1 Corinthians 7:5. [source]
1 Timothy 6:5 Destitute of the truth [ἀπεστερημένων τῆς ἀληθείας]
Rev. bereft of the truth. In N.T. commonly of defrauding, Mark 10:19; 1 Corinthians 6:7, 1 Corinthians 6:8; 1 Corinthians 7:5. The implication is that they once possessed the truth. They put it away from themselves (1 Timothy 1:19; Titus 1:14). Here it is represented as taken away from them. Comp. Romans 1:8. [source]
2 Timothy 3:3 Incontinent [ἀκρατεῖς]
Or intemperate, without self -control. N.T.oOnce in lxx, Proverbs 27:20. Ἁκρασία incontinence Matthew 23:25; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Song of Solomon 4:3. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 7:5 mean?

Not deprive one another if not - by mutual agreement for a time that you might be at leisure - for prayer and again together the same be so that may tempt you - Satan through the lack of self-control of you
Μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἂν ἐκ συμφώνου πρὸς καιρὸν ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἦτε ἵνα πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς Σατανᾶς διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν

ἀποστερεῖτε  deprive 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀποστερέω 
Sense: to defraud, rob, despoil.
ἀλλήλους  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
συμφώνου  mutual  agreement 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: σύμφωνος  
Sense: harmonious, accordant, agreeing.
καιρὸν  a  time 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: καιρός  
Sense: due measure.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
σχολάσητε  you  might  be  at  leisure 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: σχολάζω  
Sense: to cease from labour, to loiter.
τῇ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
προσευχῇ  for  prayer 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: προσευχή  
Sense: prayer addressed to God.
πάλιν  again 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πάλιν  
Sense: anew, again.
ἐπὶ  together 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
αὐτὸ  same 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
πειράζῃ  may  tempt 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πειράζω  
Sense: to try whether a thing can be done.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Σατανᾶς  Satan 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Σατανᾶς  
Sense: adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act), the name given to.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
ἀκρασίαν  lack  of  self-control 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀκρασία  
Sense: want of self-control, incontinence, intemperance.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.