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

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. 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. Soldiers 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. 10There are many different kinds of languages in this world. They all mean something to the people who speak them.

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 10:9Use the trumpets to tell everyone when an enemy is attacking you in your own land. Make a sound with the trumpets to tell the people that they must fight the enemy. Then the Lord your God will hear and he will save you from your enemies.
• Joshua 6:4Seven priests will walk in front of the Covenant Box. They will carry trumpets as they walk. On the seventh day, you and your soldiers must march round the city seven times. At the same time, the priests will blow into their trumpets.
• Judges 7:16He divided his 300 men into three separate groups. He gave a trumpet and an empty pot to each soldier. Each man put a burning branch into his pot.
• Nehemiah 4:18All of the builders had swords tied on their belts while they were building. There was a man who would make a sound with his trumpet if there was danger. He stayed near me.
• Job 39:24The horse shakes with joy as it runs to the battle. When the battle trumpet makes its noise, the horse wants to run even faster!
• Isaiah 27:13At that time, they will hear the sound of a loud trumpet. Then people who were dying in exile in Assyria will come. People who went away into Egypt will also come. They will worship the Lord on his holy hill in Jerusalem.
• Amos 3:6Also, if the people in a city hear a trumpet's sound, they become very afraid. If bad trouble comes to a city, it means that the Lord has sent it.
• Ephesians 6:11Use all the help that God gives to us. Then you can be like a soldier who fights against the Devil. You must put on the whole armour that God gives to us. The Devil attacks us in clever ways, and we need to be strong.

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