1 Corinthians 14:7 BSB

1 Corinthians 14:7

Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

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?

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Commentary

2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Things without life - Instruments of music. Whether pipe - This instrument (αὐλὸς aulos) was usually made of reeds, and probably had a resemblance to a flageolet. Or harp - This instrument (κιθάρα 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 difference in the “tones,” such as are indicated in the gamut for music.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

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.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

22 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ὅμως	homōs	Even	G3676 →
τὰ	ta	<the>	G3588 →
ἄψυχα	apsucha	lifeless things	G895 →
φωνὴν	phōnēn	a sound	G5456 →
διδόντα,	didonta	giving,	G1325 →
εἴτε	eite	whether	G1535 →
αὐλὸς	aulos	flute	G836 →
εἴτε	eite	or	G1535 →
κιθάρα,	kithara	harp,	G2788 →
ἐὰν	ean	if	G1437 →
διαστολὴν	diastolēn	distinction	G1293 →
τοῖς	tois	to the	G3588 →
φθόγγοις	phthongois	sounds	G5353 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
δῷ,	dō	they shall give,	G1325 →
πῶς	pōs	how	G4459 →
γνωσθήσεται	gnōsthēsetai	will it be known	G1097 →
τὸ	to	what	G3588 →
αὐλούμενον	auloumenon	is being piped	G832 →
ἢ	ē	or	G2228 →
τὸ	to	what	G3588 →
κιθαριζόμενον;	kitharizomenon	is being harped?	G2789 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
leads to
- 1 Peter 4:8
  Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- 1 Timothy 1:5
  The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
- Galatians 5:22
  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- 1 Corinthians 13:8
  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
- Galatians 5:6
  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
Through
Matthew 11:17
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
leads to
- Isaiah 28:9–13
  Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast?
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
1 Corinthians 14:8
Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
leads to
- Numbers 10:9
  When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who attacks you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and saved from your…
- Ezekiel 33:3–6
  and he sees the sword coming against that land and blows the ram’s horn to warn the people.

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