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

6Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? 9It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space. 10There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.

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 10:9“When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the Lord your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies.
• Joshua 6:4Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.
• Judges 7:16He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.
• Nehemiah 4:18All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
• Job 39:24It paws the ground fiercely and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows.
• Isaiah 27:13In that day the great trumpet will sound. Many who were dying in exile in Assyria and Egypt will return to Jerusalem to worship the Lord on his holy mountain.
• Amos 3:6When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed? Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?
• Ephesians 6:11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

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