The Holy Bible Verses

1 Corinthians 14:34

Cited in 2 topics on this site.

Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,Deuteronomy 27:9”

— WEB

“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.”

— KJV

“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.”

— ASV

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Commentary

Here the apostle, 1. Enjoins silence on their women in public assemblies, and to such a degree that they must not ask questions for their own information in the church, but ask their husbands at home. They are to learn in silence with all subjection; but, says the apostle, I suffer them not to teach, Ti1 2:11, Ti1 2:12. There is indeed an intimation (Co1 11:5) as if the women sometimes did pray and prophecy in their assemblies, which the apostle, in that passage, does not simply condemn, but the manner of performance, that is, praying or prophesying with the head uncovered, which, in that age and country, was throwing off the distinction of sexes, and setting themselves on a level with the men. But here he seems to forbid all public performances of theirs. They are not permitted to speak (Co1 14:34) in the church, neither in praying nor prophesying. The connection seems plainly to include the latter, in the limited sense in which it is taken in this chapter, namely, for preaching, or interpreting scripture by inspiration. And, indeed, for a woman to prophesy in this sense were to teach, which does not so well befit her state of subjection. A teacher of others has in that respect a superiority over them, which is not allowed the woman over the man, nor must she therefore be allowed to teach in a congregation: I suffer them not to teach. But praying, and uttering hymns inspired, were not teaching.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (public domain)

(Ti1 2:11-12). For women to speak in public would be an act of independence, as if they were not subject to their husbands (compare Co1 11:3; Eph 5:22; Tit 2:5; Pe1 3:1). For "under obedience," translate, "in subjection" or "submission," as the Greek is translated (Eph 5:21-22, Eph 5:24). the law--a term applied to the whole Old Testament; here, Gen 3:16.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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