1 Corinthians 14 34

1 Corinthians 14:34 kjv

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

1 Corinthians 14:34 nkjv

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.

1 Corinthians 14:34 niv

Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

1 Corinthians 14:34 esv

the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

1 Corinthians 14:34 nlt

Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says.

1 Corinthians 14 verses

1 Corinthians 14 34 Meaning

First Corinthians 14:34 mandates that women should "keep silence in the churches" because it "is not permitted unto them to speak," but rather "to be under obedience, as also saith the law." This verse, within a broader passage about orderly worship, primarily emphasizes maintaining decorum, proper authority, and an absence of disruptive speech or unauthorized teaching by women in the public assemblies of the church. The injunction serves the greater goal of edification and peace, which Paul advocates for the Corinthian believers, who were struggling with disorder in their gatherings.

1 Corinthians 14 34 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 14 addresses the chaotic state of the church in Corinth regarding the use of spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues and prophecy, in their public gatherings. Paul emphasizes that the primary goal of any activity in the church should be the edification of others (v. 26). He regulates prophecy (v. 29-32) and tongues (v. 27-28), insisting that all gifts be exercised in an orderly manner (v. 33, 40) because "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." Verse 34 follows this emphasis on order and immediately precedes verse 35, which clarifies that women should not ask disruptive questions during the service, and Paul concludes the chapter by reiterating the call for proper conduct in worship. The broader context of 1 Corinthians 11-14 concerns order in public worship, addressing issues from head coverings to the Lord's Supper and the appropriate use of spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 14 34 Word analysis

• Let your women: The Greek word is gynaikos (γυναικός), which can mean both "woman" or "wife" depending on context. Given the plural "your women" (hymōn ὑμῶν), it generally refers to women within the Corinthian Christian community assembling for worship.
• keep silence: The Greek verb sigatōsan (σιγάτωσαν) is a strong imperative, meaning to "be silent," "hold one's peace," or "keep quiet." It denotes a cessation of verbal communication in the public setting. The force of the imperative indicates a direct command rather than a mere suggestion.
• in the churches: The plural en tais ekklēsiais (ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις) signifies that this injunction applies not merely to the single Corinthian assembly, but to Christian gatherings generally. This emphasizes a universal principle for early Christian worship.
• for it is not permitted: The phrase ou gar epitetraptai (οὐ γὰρ ἐπιτέτραπται) uses the verb epitrepō (ἐπιτρέπω), meaning "to permit," "allow," or "to turn over to." The perfect tense ("it is not permitted") implies a settled, established, and authoritative prohibition, not a temporary suggestion. The gar (γὰρ) provides the reason or explanation for the silence.
• unto them to speak: The verb used is lalein (λαλεῖν), which broadly means "to speak," "utter," or "converse." This is often contrasted with didaskein (διδάσκειν), which means "to teach" authoritatively. The scope of "lalein" here is central to interpretation: does it forbid all verbal participation (e.g., praying or prophesying, as in 1 Cor 11:5), or specific types of speaking that would be disruptive or usurp authority within the context of judging prophecies and maintaining order (as clarified by v. 35)? Many scholars connect it to public authoritative pronouncements or questioning in a disorderly way.
• but [to be] under obedience: The imperative hypotassestōsan (ὑποτασσέσθωσαν) comes from hypotassō (ὑποτάσσω), meaning "to arrange under," "subordinate oneself," or "be in subjection to authority." This indicates a fundamental principle of submitting to established order, reflecting God's nature and the church's structure.
• as also saith the law: Kathōs kai ho nomos legei (καθὼς καὶ ὁ νόμος λέγει) refers to the Old Testament law. While no specific verse explicitly states, "women must be silent," the reference likely points to broader principles of hierarchy, order, and female submission found in the Law and the foundational narratives of creation and the fall (e.g., Gen 2:18, Gen 3:16). It establishes a theological and authoritative basis for Paul's command.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Let your women keep silence... it is not permitted unto them to speak": This powerful pairing of commands and prohibitions suggests a strong limitation on female vocal participation. The nature of the "speaking" is likely contextualized by the overall chaos of 1 Cor 14—not mere chatter but a disruptive, questioning, or usurping-of-authority type of speech, perhaps in the public judging of prophetic utterances (v. 29) or taking on a teaching role that challenges male headship.
• "but [to be] under obedience, as also saith the law": This provides the underlying reason for the silence—it is rooted in the principle of submission to established order, an order seen as divinely ordained and affirmed in Old Testament principles. It ties the church's conduct to ancient scriptural truth.

1 Corinthians 14 34 Bonus section

• Reconciliation with 1 Corinthians 11:5: Many interpretations suggest a distinction between a woman's capacity to pray or prophesy (personal inspiration/utterance, often done with head covered as a sign of acknowledging authority) and a woman speaking in a way that publicly judges prophecy or usurps the authoritative teaching role (as understood by Paul in passages like 1 Tim 2:11-12). The "silence" in 1 Cor 14:34 might specifically address authoritative teaching or questioning that disrupts public order rather than all vocal contributions.
• The Law Reference: The lack of a direct Old Testament quote has led scholars to consider that "the law" refers to a general principle derived from creation accounts (Gen 2-3) regarding the order of headship and subjection, which was commonly understood and inferred by the Apostle. It's a statement about a divinely established principle, not just a cultural custom, although the specific application certainly interacts with the local culture.
• Cultural Shame: Verse 35 directly states, "for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." This indicates that disruptive questioning or public, unseemly conduct by women was particularly dishonorable in the cultural context of the day, potentially bringing disrepute upon the Christian assembly and the gospel message.

1 Corinthians 14 34 Commentary

Paul's instruction for women to "keep silence in the churches" must be understood within the specific context of 1 Corinthians 14, which centers on establishing order and edification in chaotic Corinthian worship services. It's not a blanket prohibition against all verbal expression by women, as 1 Corinthians 11:5 mentions women praying and prophesying. Instead, the "silence" likely pertains to specific disruptive forms of speech, such as women speaking out of turn to judge prophecies or engaging in questioning that would be shameful and undermine male leadership, as hinted in verse 35. The command for them "to be under obedience" and the reference to "the law" underscore the principle of order and established spiritual authority. This directive serves to ensure that worship proceeds decently and in order (v. 40), reflecting God's nature as a God of peace (v. 33), preventing confusion, and upholding the divine order within the Christian community.