1 Corinthians 14:7

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 wish that all of you could speak in other languages, but especially that you could speak what God has revealed. The person who speaks what God has revealed is more important than the person who speaks in other languages. This is true unless he can interpret what he says to help the church grow. 6Brothers and sisters, it wouldn’t do you any good if I came to you speaking in other languages, unless I explained revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine to you. Musical instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. If there is no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played? 8For example, if the trumpet doesn’t sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9In the same way, if you don’t speak in a way that can be understood, how will anyone know what you’re saying? You will be talking into thin air.

1 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 speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal.
• 1 Corinthians 14:8For example, if the trumpet doesn’t sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
• Numbers 10:2“Make two trumpets out of hammered silver. Use them to call the community together and as a signal to break camp.
• Matthew 11:17‘We played music for you, but you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn’t show any sadness.’
• Luke 7:32They are like children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other, ‘We played music for you, but you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn’t 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

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

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