1 Corinthians 14:34

¶ 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.

Let {G4601} your {G5216} women {G1135} keep silence {G4601} in {G1722} the churches {G1577}: for {G1063} it is {G2010} not {G3756} permitted {G2010} unto them {G846} to speak {G2980}; but {G235} they are commanded to be under obedience {G5293}, as {G2531} also {G2532} saith {G3004} the law {G3551}.

let the wives remain silent when the congregation meets; they are certainly not permitted to speak out. Rather, let them remain subordinate, as also the Torah says;

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

let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.

1 Corinthians 14:34 is a verse that has generated much discussion and varying interpretations within Christian theology. In this passage, the Apostle Paul addresses issues of order and conduct within the public worship services of the Corinthian church, specifically concerning the role of women.

Context

This verse is situated within a larger discourse in 1 Corinthians chapter 14, where Paul provides instructions on the proper exercise of spiritual gifts, particularly tongues and prophecy, in church gatherings. His overarching concern throughout the chapter is that everything be done "decently and in order" for the edification of the body of Christ. Prior to this verse, Paul lays down regulations for those speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:27-28) and prophets (1 Corinthians 14:29-32), emphasizing that individuals should speak one at a time and allow for discernment. This instruction regarding women follows directly after Paul's assertion that "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Key Themes

  • Order in Worship: The primary theme of 1 Corinthians 14 is the necessity of orderly conduct in public gatherings. Paul seeks to prevent chaos and ensure that all activities contribute to spiritual growth and understanding.
  • Submission and Authority: The phrase "to be under obedience" highlights a principle of submission, which Paul references elsewhere, such as in Ephesians 5:22 and Colossians 3:18 regarding wives to husbands. The "law" mentioned here is often understood not as a specific Mosaic command for silence in churches (as none explicitly exists for this context), but as a general principle of order and roles established from creation, perhaps referencing Genesis 3:16 or the broader biblical understanding of male headship.
  • Edification: While strict, the command serves the larger purpose of ensuring that worship services are beneficial and not disruptive.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Silence" (sigao): The Greek word used here means "to be silent," "to hold one's peace," or "to keep secret." It doesn't necessarily imply absolute muteness throughout the entire service but rather refraining from disruptive, authoritative, or questioning speech in a public assembly.
  • "Speak" (laleo): This verb means "to talk," "to utter a sound," or "to speak." In the context of 1 Corinthians 14, where Paul is discussing public teaching, prophecy, and discernment, "to speak" likely refers to engaging in public discourse that might challenge or interrupt the established order of the service, particularly in a teaching or authoritative capacity.
  • "Obedience" (hypotage): This term signifies "subjection" or "submission." It points to a structured relationship within the church community, consistent with Paul's teachings on roles and order.

Interpretations and Application

This verse is one of the most debated in the New Testament, with various interpretations:

  • Absolute Prohibition: Some interpret this as a universal command for women to remain completely silent and not speak in any public church setting, including praying aloud, singing, or testifying.
  • Contextual Prohibition: Many scholars believe Paul is addressing a specific problem in the Corinthian church. Women might have been speaking disruptively, questioning speakers, or challenging male leadership in a disorderly fashion. In this view, the command is against disruptive or usurping authoritative teaching, not against all forms of verbal participation (especially considering 1 Corinthians 11:5, where Paul assumes women *do* pray and prophesy in public, albeit with proper head coverings).
  • Cultural Prohibition: Another perspective suggests that Paul's instruction was largely culturally specific to the social norms of first-century Corinth, where women speaking publicly in such a manner might have brought dishonor to the church or violated societal expectations of modesty and deference.

Regardless of the specific interpretation, the underlying principle is Paul's consistent emphasis on order, peace, and edification in the church. The aim is for worship to be conducted in a way that honors God and benefits all participants, reflecting God's character as "not the author of confusion, but of peace." This aligns with other Pauline instructions on church conduct, such as those found in 1 Timothy 2:11-12, which also addresses women's roles in learning and teaching.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Timothy 2:11

    Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

  • 1 Timothy 2:12

    But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

  • Genesis 3:16

    ¶ Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

  • Numbers 30:3

    ¶ If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, [being] in her father's house in her youth;

  • Numbers 30:13

    Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

  • Colossians 3:18

    ¶ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:35

    And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

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