1 Corinthians 14:8

1 Corinthians 14:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
• New International Version (NIV)Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
• New King James Version (NKJV)For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:8

6So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds — whether flute or harp — if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? 9In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning.

1 Corinthians 14:8 word by word

καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν ἄδηλον σάλπιγξ φωνὴν δῷ, τίς παρασκευάσεται εἰς πόλεμον;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• the trumpetσάλπιγξsalpigx · trumpetG4536
• giveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• an uncertainἄδηλοςadēlos · unclearG82
• soundφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: noiseG5456
• whoτίςtis · which?G5101
• shall prepare himselfπαρασκευάζωparaskeuazō · to prepareG3903
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the battleπόλεμοςpolēmos · warG4171

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:8

• Numbers 10:9“When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God and be saved from your enemies.
• Joshua 6:4Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the rams’ horns.
• Judges 7:16Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each of the men a ram’s horn in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch inside it in the other hand.
• Nehemiah 4:18Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the one who sounded the ram’s horn was beside me.
• Job 39:24He charges ahead with trembling rage; he cannot stand still at the sound of the ram’s horn.
• Isaiah 27:13On that day a great ram’s horn will be blown, and those lost in the land of Assyria will come, as well as those dispersed in the land of Egypt; and they will worship the Lord at Jerusalem on the holy mountain.
• Amos 3:6If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it?
• Ephesians 6:11Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8If the trumpet give an uncertain sound - If, when the soldier should prepare himself for the battle, the trumpet should give a different sound to that which is ordinarily used on such occasions, the soldier is not informed of what he should do, and therefore does not arm himself; consequently, that vague, unintelligible sound of the trumpet, is of no use.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound - The trumpet was used commonly in war. It is a well-known wind instrument, and was made of brass, silver, etc. It was used for various purposes in war - to summon the soldiers; to animate them in their march; to call them forth to battle; to sound a retreat; and to signify to them what they were to do in battle, whether to charge, advance, or retreat, etc. It therefore employed a “language” which was…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. 88. Translate, "For if also," an additional step in the argument. uncertain sound--having no definite meaning: whereas it ought to be so marked that one succession of notes on the trumpet should summon the soldiers to attack; another, to retreat; another, to some other evolution.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:8

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

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