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

26My Christian friends, this is what you should do when you meet together. Some of you may have a song to praise God. Some of you may have a lesson to teach about God. Other people may have a special thing that God has shown to them. Some people may have a message in a special language. Other people may explain what the message means. Do all these things to help the church become stronger. 27If some people speak in special languages, it should only be two or three people. They should speak one person at a time. Then someone must explain what each person said. But perhaps there is nobody among you who can explain like that. Then, anyone who wanted to speak in a special language must be quiet in your meeting. When they are on their own, they should speak to God. 29When you meet together, two or three people should speak a message from God. Then the other people there should think carefully about each message. 30Someone who is sitting in your meeting may receive a special message from God. Then, the person who is already speaking should stop.

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