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

6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7And 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? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

1 Corinthians 14:8 word by word

καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν ἄδηλον σάλπιγξ φωνὴν δῷ, τίς παρασκευάσεται εἰς πόλεμον;Read the interlinear

• 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 10:9And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before Yhwh your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
• Joshua 6:4And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
• Judges 7:16And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
• Nehemiah 4:18For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
• Job 39:24He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
• Isaiah 27:13And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship Yhwh in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
• Amos 3:6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, And Yhwh hath not done it?
• Ephesians 6:11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles 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