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1 Corinthians 7

1 Cor. 7:21 KJV (With Strong’s)

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21
Art thou called
kaleo (Greek #2564)
to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)
KJV usage: bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).
Pronounce: kal-eh'-o
Origin: akin to the base of 2753
being a servant
doulos (Greek #1401)
a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)
KJV usage: bond(-man), servant.
Pronounce: doo'-los
Origin: from 1210
? care
melo (Greek #3199)
to be of interest to, i.e. to concern (only third person singular present indicative used impersonally, it matters)
KJV usage: (take) care.
Pronounce: mel'-o
Origin: a primary verb
x not
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
for it
soi (Greek #4671)
to thee
KJV usage: thee, thine own, thou, thy.
Pronounce: soy
Origin: dative case of 4771
: but
alla (Greek #235)
properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
KJV usage: and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
Pronounce: al-lah'
Origin: neuter plural of 243
if
ei (Greek #1487)
if, whether, that, etc.
KJV usage: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537. See also 1437.
Pronounce: i
Origin: a primary particle of conditionality
thou mayest
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
dunamai (Greek #1410)
to be able or possible
KJV usage: be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.
Pronounce: doo'-nam-ahee
Origin: of uncertain affinity
be made
ginomai (Greek #1096)
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
KJV usage: arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
Pronounce: ghin'-om-ahee
Origin: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb
free
eleutheros (Greek #1658)
unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e. (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability)
KJV usage: free (man, woman), at liberty.
Pronounce: el-yoo'-ther-os
Origin: probably from the alternate of 2064
, use
chraomai (Greek #5530)
to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner
KJV usage: entreat, use. Compare 5531; 5534.
Pronounce: khrah'-om-ahee
Origin: middle voice of a primary verb (perhaps rather from 5495, to handle)
it rather
mallon (Greek #3123)
(adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather
KJV usage: + better, X far, (the) more (and more), (so) much (the more), rather.
Pronounce: mal'-lon
Origin: neuter of the comparative of the same as 3122
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x
Heb. 13:5• 5Free from love of money [be] your course of life, satisfied with present things, for he hath said, I will not leave thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee: (Heb. 13:5)

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Servant

Cross References

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being.
1 Cor. 12:13• 13For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:13)
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Gal. 3:28• 28There is no Jew nor Greek, there is no bondservant nor freeman, there is no male and female; for all ye are one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28)
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Col. 3:11• 11where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond, free, but Christ the whole, and in all. (Col. 3:11)
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1 Tim. 6:1‑3• 1Let as many as are bondmen under yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and the teaching be not reviled.
 2And they that have believing masters let them not despise [them] because they are brethren, but the more let them serve, because they that partake of the good service are faithful and beloved. These things teach and exhort.
 3If anyone teach differently, and accede not to sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is according to piety, (1 Tim. 6:1‑3)
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1 Peter 2:18‑24• 18Household servants, be in subjection with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked.
 19For this [is] grace if for conscience toward God one endureth griefs, suffering unjustly.
 20For what glory [is it] if when ye sin and are buffeted ye shall endure? but if when ye do well and suffer ye shall endure, this [is] grace with God.
 21For to this were ye called; because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you a model that ye should follow up his steps;
 22who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;
 23who when reviled did not again revile, when suffering did not threaten, but gave over to him that judgeth righteously;
 24who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:18‑24)
a servant.Rather, a slave, [doulos ,] the property of another, and bought with his money.
In these verses the apostle shows that Christianity makes no change in our civil connections.care.
Luke 10:40‑41• 40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and, coming up, she said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? speak to her therefore that she may help me.
 41{i}But Jesus answering said to her,{/i} Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; (Luke 10:40‑41)
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Luke 12:29• 29{i}And ye,{/i} seek not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, and be not in anxiety; (Luke 12:29)
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Luke 12•  (Luke 12)
:*marg:;
Luke 21:34• 34But take heed to yourselves lest possibly your hearts be weighed down with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of life, and that day come upon you suddenly unawares, (Luke 21:34)
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Phil. 4:6,11• 6Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
 11Not that I speak in regard to want; for I learned in the circumstances in which I am to find competence. (Phil. 4:6,11)
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Heb. 13:5• 5Free from love of money [be] your course of life, satisfied with present things, for he hath said, I will not leave thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee: (Heb. 13:5)
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1 Peter 5:7• 7having cast all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

J. N. Darby Translation

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21
Hast thou been called being a bondman, let it not concern thee; but and if thou canst become free, use it rather.

W. Kelly Translation

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21
Wast thou called a bondman? Let it not be a care to thee; but if also thou canst be free, use [ita] rather.

WK Translation Notes

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a
Some take this verse to mean, Even if thou canst be free, use it rather (the bondage) rather than to be a freeman. This however appears not only to be extravagant, but to make the human circumstances of too much weight, as if slavery were more favourable than Christian walk in freedom.