1 Corinthians 14:7
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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?

things.

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

except.

1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

Numbers 10:2-10 Make thee two trumpets of beaten silver, wherewith thou mayest call together the multitude when the camp is to be removed. . . .

Matthew 11:17 Who crying to their companions say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have lamented, and you have not mourned.

Luke 7:32 They are like to children sitting in the marketplace and speaking one to another and saying: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have mourned, and you have not wept.

sounds.

Context
Prophecy and Tongues
6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in doctrine? 7Even 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? 8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?…
Cross References
1 Samuel 10:5
After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is: and when thou shalt be come there into the city, thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and they shall be prophesying.

Matthew 11:17
Who crying to their companions say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have lamented, and you have not mourned.

1 Corinthians 14:6
But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in doctrine?

1 Corinthians 14:8
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

Lexicon
Even in the case of
ὅμως (homōs)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 3676: Yet, nevertheless, even. Adverb from the base of homou; at the same time, i.e. notwithstanding, yet still.

lifeless
ἄψυχα (apsycha)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's Greek 895: Lifeless, inanimate. Lifeless, i.e. Inanimate.

instruments,
διδόντα (didonta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's Greek 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

such as
εἴτε (eite)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 1535: And if, whether. From ei and te; if too.

[the] flute
αὐλὸς (aulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 836: A flute, pipe. From the same as aer; a flute.

or
εἴτε (eite)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 1535: And if, whether. From ei and te; if too.

harp,
κιθάρα (kithara)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 2788: A harp, lyre. Of uncertain affinity; a lyre.

how
πῶς (pōs)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

will [anyone] recognize
γνωσθήσεται (gnōsthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's Greek 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

[the tune]
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

they are playing
δῷ (dō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's Greek 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

unless
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's Greek 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

notes
φθόγγοις (phthongois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's Greek 5353: A sound. From phtheggomai; utterance, i.e. A musical note.

are distinct?
διαστολὴν (diastolēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 1293: Distinction, difference, separation. From diastellomai; a variation.


Additional Translations
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?

Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether the flute or harp, unless they give distinction to the sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or being harped?

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?

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?

Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they give not distinction to the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

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?

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?

Even inanimate things--flutes or harps, for instance--when yielding a sound, if they make no distinction in the notes, how shall the tune which is played on the flute or the harp be known?

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

yet the things without life giving sound -- whether pipe or harp -- if a difference in the sounds they may not give, how shall be known that which is piped or that which is harped?
Jump to Previous
Different Distinct Distinction Either Except Flute Flutes Harp Harps Instance Instrument Instruments Life Lifeless Notes Pipe Piped Played Produce Producing Sound Sounds Tones Tune Unless Voice Whether Yielding
Jump to Next
Different Distinct Distinction Either Except Flute Flutes Harp Harps Instance Instrument Instruments Life Lifeless Notes Pipe Piped Played Produce Producing Sound Sounds Tones Tune Unless Voice Whether Yielding
External Links
1 Corinthians 14:7 NIV
1 Corinthians 14:7 NLT
1 Corinthians 14:7 ESV
1 Corinthians 14:7 NASB
1 Corinthians 14:7 ASV

1 Corinthians 14:7 Bible Apps
1 Corinthians 14:7 Biblia Paralela
1 Corinthians 14:7 Chinese Bible
1 Corinthians 14:7 French Bible
1 Corinthians 14:7 German Bible

Alphabetical: a anyone as be being case distinction do either Even flute harp how if in is it know known lifeless make not notes of on or played produce producing sound sounds such that the there they things tones tune unless what will Yet

NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 14:7 Even things without life giving a voice (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor) Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

1 Corinthians 14:6
Top of Page
Top of Page