1 Corinthians 14:7

1 Corinthians 14:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
• New International Version (NIV)Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
• English Standard Version (ESV)If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:7

5Now I wish that all of you spoke in unknown tongues, but even more [I wish] that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translates or explains [what he says], so that the church may be edified [instructed, improved, strengthened]. 6Now, believers, if I come to you speaking in unknown tongues, how will I benefit you unless I also speak to you [clearly] either by revelation [revealing God’s mystery], or by knowledge [teaching about God], or by prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], or by instruction [teaching precepts that develop spiritual maturity]? Yet even lifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct [musical] tones, how will anyone [listening] know what is piped or played? 8And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligible and clear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]!

1 Corinthians 14:7 word by word

ὅμως τὰ ἄψυχα φωνὴν διδόντα, εἴτε αὐλὸς εἴτε κιθάρα, ἐὰν διαστολὴν τοῖς φθόγγοις μὴ δῷ, πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ αὐλούμενον ἢ τὸ κιθαριζόμενον;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• And evenὅμωςhomōs · just asG3676
• without lifeἄψυχοςapsuchos · lifelessG895
• givingδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• soundφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: noiseG5456
• whetherεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
• pipeαὐλόςaulos · fluteG836
• harpκιθάραkithara · harpG2788
• exceptἐάνean · ifG1437
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• a distinctionδιαστολήdiastolē · distinctionG1293
• in the soundsφθόγγοςphthoggos · soundG5353
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• shall it be knownγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• is pipedαὐλέωauleō · to play the fluteG832
• orἤē · orG2228
• harpedκιθαρίζωkitharizō · to play the harpG2789

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:7

• 1 Corinthians 13:1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].
• 1 Corinthians 14:8And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
• Numbers 10:2“Make two trumpets of silver; you shall make them of hammered work. You shall use them to summon the congregation and to have the camps move out.
• Matthew 11:17and say ‘We piped the flute for you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we wailed sad dirges [playing funeral], and you did not mourn and cry aloud.’
• Luke 7:32They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, and saying, ‘We played the flute for you [pretending to be at a wedding], and you did not dance; we sang a dirge [pretending to be at a funeral], and you did not weep [so nothing we did appealed to you].’

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7And even things without life - I may, as if he had said, illustrate this farther by referring to a pipe or harp; if these were to utter mere sounds without order, harmony, or melody, though every tone of music might be in the sounds, surely no person could discern a tune in such sounds, nor receive pleasure from such discords: even so is the person who speaks in an unknown tongue, but does not interpret. His speech tends no more to edification than those…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Things without life - Instruments of music. Whether pipe - This instrument ( ̓̀ aulos) was usually made of reeds, and probably had a resemblance to a flageolet. Or harp - This instrument ( ́ kithara) was a stringed instrument, and was made in the same way as a modern harp. It usually had ten strings, and was struck with the plectrum, or with a key. It was commonly employed in praise. Except they give a distinction in the sounds - Unless they give a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hear them, is but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them. Language plain and easy to be…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-12A message must be clear to communicate well.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Translate, "And things without life-giving sound, whether pipe or harp, YET (notwithstanding their giving sound) if they give not a distinction in the tones (that is, notes) how?" &c. what is piped or harped--that is, what tune is played on the pipe or harp.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:7

• Harp
• Language
• Preaching
• Tongues (the Gift)

In the dictionaries

• Confusion
• Desire
• Edification
• Except
• Pipe
• Profit
• Tongues, Gift of
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Holy Spirit
• Ministry

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