1 Corinthians 14:28

1 Corinthians 14:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
• New International Version (NIV)If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:28

26What then is the right course, believers? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a tongue, or an interpretation. Let everything be constructive and edifying and done for the good of all the church. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be limited to two or at the most three, and each one speaking in turn, and one must interpret [what is said]. But if there is no one to interpret, the one [who wishes to speak in a tongue] must keep silent in church; let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak [as inspired by the Holy Spirit], while the rest pay attention and weigh carefully what is said. 30But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent.

1 Corinthians 14:28 word by word

ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ᾖ διερμηνευτής, σιγάτω ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἑαυτῷ δὲ λαλείτω καὶ τῷ θεῷ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• there beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• noμήmē · notG3361
• interpreterδιερμηνευτήςdiermēneutēs · interpreterG1328
• let him keep silenceσιγάωsigaō · be silentG4601
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• to himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• to Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28But if there be no interpreter - If there be none present who can give the proper sense of this Hebrew reading and speaking, then let him keep silence, and not occupy the time of the Church, by speaking in a language which only himself can understand.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28But if there be no interpreter - If there be no one present who has the gift of interpretation. And let him speak to himself and to God - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:2, note at 1 Corinthians 14:4. Let him commune with himself, and with God; let him meditate on the truths which are revealed to him, and let him in secret express his desires to God.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-33Verses 26-33 Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. The man who…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27-28Paul advises a church eager for the gift of tongues to limit its public use. He suggests no more than two or three people should speak, one at a time, and only if someone can interpret the message.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. let him--the speaker in unknown tongues. speak to himself, and to God--(compare 1Co 14:2, 4)--privately and not in the hearing of others.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:28

• Church
• Interpreter
• Language
• Tongues (the Gift)

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Confusion
• Desire
• Edification
• Except
• Pipe
• Profit
• Tongues, Gift of
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings