Death or Sleep

Vincent's Word Studies

Be dead ( κοιμηθῇ )

Lit., have fallen asleep. See on Acts 7:60; see on 2 Peter 3:4; compare Romans 7:2, where the usual word for die, ἀποθάνῃ is used. In that passage Paul is discussing the abstract question. Here the inference is more personal, which is perhaps the reason for his using the more tender expression.

4 out of 25 translations checked use some form of sleep.

1CO 11:30 2838 koivmhsiß koimesis, sleep, taking of rest;

1CO 7:39 2837 κοιμηθῇ koimao, dead, put to sleep, slumber, be dead;

Rom 7:2 599 ἀποθάνῃ apothnesko, dead

Aramaic Bible in Plain English

A wife is bound by The Written Law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband should fall asleep, she is free to be whosever she will, only in Our Lord.

Darby Bible Translation

A wife is bound for whatever time her husband lives; but if the husband be fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation

A wife hath been bound by law as long time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will -- only in the Lord;

Modern Literal Translation

A wife is bound by law inasmuch time as her husband is living; but also if the husband has fallen-asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wills; but only in the Lord.

Romans 7:2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

1Co 11:30. weak … sickly - He is "weak" who has naturally no strength: "sickly," who has lost his strength by disease [Tittmann, Greek Synonyms of the New Testament].

sleep—are being lulled in death: not a violent death; but one the result of sickness, sent as the Lord's chastening for the individual's salvation, the mind being brought to a right state on the sick bed (1Co 11:31).

People's New Testament

1Co 11:30 For this cause, many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Some have held that this means that the improper observance of the supper has made many weak and sickly Christians, and some had even died spiritually. Others hold that physical judgments had been sent, and some sickened and others died. The last view is most generally held.