1 Corinthians 14:30
in 1 Corinthians 14And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.
KJV
If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
12 notes on this verseBe revealed to another that sitteth by - Probably those who were teachers sat on a particular seat, or place, from which they might most readily address the people; and this may be the meaning of sitting by. If such a person could say, I have just received a particular revelation from God, then let him have the liberty immediately to speak it; as it might possibly relate to the circumstances of that time and place.
This site's exposition
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge
on 1 Corinthians 14:29-31
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge: the same limit and the same order govern prophecy, with a further check tongues did not carry, the other prophets weighing what has been said, the discerning of spirits from 12:10 put into practice as a standing procedure. Verse 30 adds a courtesy rule for a prophet interrupted by a fresh revelation, let the first hold his peace, ranking order above even the urgency of a new word. Verse 31 states the purpose behind every rule so far, ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted, the goal never fewer gifts operating but every gift reaching its hearers in turn.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
But it happens, by a love of presumption and of obstinacy, that one would rather maintain his own evil and false position, than agree in the right and true which belongs to another. Looking forward to which, the blessed Apostle Paul writes to Timothy, and warns him that a bishop must not be "litigious, nor contentious, but gentle and teachable." Now he is teachable who is meek and gentle to the patience of learning.
In particular, the higher-ranking person should give way to the lower. It is simply not the case that every privilege can be granted to a single individual. Nor can it be that anyone, however low in the hierarchy, should have nothing given to him. No …
"But if a revelation he made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." What may this be which is spoken? "If when thou prophesiest," saith he, "and art speaking, the spirit of another stir him up, be silent thenceforth." For that which he said in the case of the tongues, this also here he requires, that it should be done "in turn," only in a diviner way here. For he made not use of the very expression, "in turn?" but "if a revelation be made to another." Since what need was there further, that when the second was moved to prophesy the first should speak? Ought they then both? Nay, this were profane and would produce confusion. Ought the first? This too were out of place. For to this end when the one was speaking, the Spirit moved the other, in order that he too might say somewhat. So then, comforting him that had been silenced, he saith, "For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." Seest thou how again he states the reason wherefore he doeth all things? For if him that speaks with tongues he altogether forbid to speak, when he hath not an interpreter, because of the unprofitableness; reasonably also he bids restrain prophecy, if it have not this quality, but createth confusion and disturbance and unseasonable tumult.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Here he teaches good order and humility of mind. When, he says, the Spirit stirs up another, you, the first one, be silent. For if it had pleased the Spirit for you to speak, then "you can all prophesy one by one," that is, do …
The order to be observed in using this gift is that if one of those who sat and kept silence and judged had received a better revelation, then one who is exhorting and standing should sit down and the one to whom a better revelation …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Indeed, it is by many understood that the former speaker should immediately hold his peace. But this seems unnatural, and not so well to agree with the context. For why must one that was speaking by inspiration be immediately silent upon another man's being inspired, and suppress what was dictated to him by the same Spirit?
If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by,....
He forbids women speaking in the church; and closes this subject by requiring them to perform every thing in the public worship with order and decency,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
If any thing--Translate, "But if any thing." another that sitteth by--a hearer. let the first hold his peace--Let him who heretofore spoke, and who came to the assembly furnished with a previous ordinary (in those times) revelation from God (1Co 14:26), give place to him who at the assembly is moved to prophesy by a sudden revelation from the Spirit.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
If anything be revealed to another - If, while one is speaking, an important truth is revealed to another, or is suggested to his mind by the Holy Spirit, which he feels it to be important to communicate. Let the first hold his peace - That is, let him that was speaking conclude his discourse, and let there not be the confusion arising from two persons speaking. at the same time. Doddridge understands this as meaning, that he to whom the revelation was made should sit still, until the other was done speaking, and not rise and rudely interrupt him. But this is to do violence to the language. So Macknight understands it, that the one who was speaking was first to finish his discourse, and be silent. before the other began to speak. But this is evidently a forced construction. Locke understands it as meaning, that if, while one was speaking, the meaning of what he said was revealed to another, the first was to cease speaking until the other had interpreted or explained it. But the obvious meaning of the passage is, that the man that was speaking was to close his discourse and be silent. It does not follow, however, that he was to be rudely interrupted. He might close his discourse deliberately, or perhaps by an intimation from the person to whom the revelation was made. At any rate, two were not to speak at the same time, but the one who was speaking was to conclude before the other addressed the assembly.
The words behind it
8 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐὰν | ean | If | G1437 → | 352 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἄλλῳ | allo | to another | G243 → | 155 times |
| ἀποκαλυφθῇ | apokaluphthea | a revelation shall be made | G601 → | 26 times |
| καθημένῳ, | kathemeno | sitting by, | G2521 → | |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρῶτος | protos | first | G4413 → | 152 times |
| σιγάτω. | sigato | should be silent. | G4601 → | 9 times |
ἐὰνIf
eanG1437 →352 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἄλλῳto another
alloG243 →155 times
ἀποκαλυφθῇa revelation shall be made
apokaluphtheaG601 →26 times
καθημένῳ,sitting by,
kathemenoG2521 →
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
πρῶτοςfirst
protosG4413 →152 times
σιγάτω.should be silent.
sigatoG4601 →9 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 14:26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the…
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- 1 Corinthians 12:7–10
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
- Romans 14:19
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- Ephesians 4:16
From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
- Ephesians 5:19
Through
Job 32:11Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,
it leads to
- Job 29:23
They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
- Job 29:21
Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
- Proverbs 18:17
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
- Job 29:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Cyprian, Epistle LXXIII; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 36; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.