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

5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification. 6But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophecy, or of teaching? Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the 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

• Yetὅμωςhomōs · just asG3676
• lifelessἄψυχοςapsuchos · lifelessG895
• fluteαὐλόςaulos · fluteG836
• harpκιθάραkithara · harpG2788
• in producingδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• a soundφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: noiseG5456
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• a distinctionδιαστολήdiastolē · distinctionG1293
• in the tonesφθόγγοςphthoggos · soundG5353
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• will it be knownγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• what is playedαὐλέωauleō · to play the fluteG832
• orἤē · orG2228
• on the harpκιθαρίζωkitharizō · to play the harpG2789

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:7

• 1 Corinthians 13:1If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
• 1 Corinthians 14:8For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
• Numbers 10:2“Make yourself two trumpets of silver, you shall make them of hammered work; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and breaking camp.
• Matthew 11:17and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not mourn.’
• Luke 7:32They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not weep.’

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