English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 14:28
28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
Context of 1 Corinthians 14:28
26What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 141 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
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries