1 Corinthians 14:7
Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Open 1 Corinthians 14:7 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Tamen quæ sine anima sunt vocem dantia, sive tibia, sive cithara ; nisi distinctionem sonituum dederint, quomodo scietur id quod canitur, aut quod citharizatur ?
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- ὅμως τὰ ἄψυχα φωνὴν διδόντα, εἴτε αὐλὸς εἴτε κιθάρα, ἐὰν διαστολὴν τοῖς φθόγγοις μὴ δῷ, πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ αὐλούμενον ἢ τὸ κιθαριζόμενον;
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom Homilies on First Corinthians, Homily XXXV
[3] Ver. 7 . “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?”
St John Chrysostom Homilies on First Corinthians, Homily XXXVI
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.