EasyEnglish Bible 2018
1 Corinthians 14:7
7Think about how people make music with flutes or harps. Those things are not alive. We have to use them to make clear sounds. If we do not use them properly, then nobody can recognize the music.
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
5I would like all of you to speak in different kinds of languages. But even more, I want you to speak God's message clearly to people. Anyone who can speak a message from God is important in the church. He is more important than someone who speaks in different kinds of languages. That person only helps the church if someone can explain what he says. Only in that way will his message help the church to become stronger. 6My Christian friends, if I come to visit you, then I want to help you. But if I speak to you in languages that you do not understand, that will not help you at all. I would need to explain to you what God has shown to me. I would need to help you to understand something. I would need to speak a clear message from God, or teach you something. Only that would help you. Think about how people make music with flutes or harps. Those things are not alive. We have to use them to make clear sounds. If we do not use them properly, then nobody can recognize the music. 8Soldiers will not prepare to fight unless they hear a clear sound from the trumpet. 9It is the same for you. You must use your tongue to speak clearly. If not, nobody will understand what you are saying. You will only be speaking words into the air.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 141 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 13:1I may be able to speak many different languages that people or angels speak. But that is worth nothing if I do not love other people. I would only be making a loud noise, like someone who hits a piece of metal.
- 1 Corinthians 14:8Soldiers will not prepare to fight unless they hear a clear sound from the trumpet.
- Numbers 10:2‘Make two trumpets from one piece of silver. Use a hammer to make them in the right shape. Make a noise with them to tell the people that they must come together. Also, use the trumpets to tell the people that they must move the camp.
- Matthew 11:17“We made happy music on a flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a sad song but you did not cry.”
- Luke 7:32They are like children who are sitting in the market place. They are playing games. They shout to other children, “We made happy music on a flute for you, but you did not dance. Then we sang a sad song but you did not cry.”
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
In the dictionaries
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
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