1 Corinthians 14 · Verse 28

1 Corinthians 14:28

But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
1 Corinthians 14:28, King James Version

1 Corinthians 14:28 in other translations

BSBBut if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
WEBBut if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
ASVbut if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
YLTand if there may be no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, and to himself let him speak, and to God.
DARBYbut if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
BBEBut if there is no one to give the sense, let him keep quiet in the church; and let his words be to himself and to God.
WebsterBut if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

What does 1 Corinthians 14:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. let him--the speaker in unknown tongues. speak to himself, and to God--(compare 1Co 14:2, 4)--privately and not in the hearing of others.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. But if there be no interpreter. If there be no one present who has the gift of interpretation.

And let him speak to himself, and to God. 1Cor 14:2,4. Let him commune with himself, and with God; let him meditate on the truths which are revealed to him, and let him in secret express his desires to God.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 But if there be no interpreter - If there be none present who can give the proper sense of this Hebrew reading and speaking, then let him keep silence, and not occupy the time of the Church, by speaking in a language which only himself can understand.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 →

1 Corinthians 14:28 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐὰνeanIfG1437
δὲdehoweverG1161
μὴmēnotG3361
ᾖēthere shall beG1510
διερμηνευτής,diermēneutēsan interpreter,G1328
σιγάτωsigatōhe should be silentG4601
ἐνeninG1722
ἐκκλησίᾳ,ekklēsia[the] church,G1577
ἑαυτῷhe'autōto himselfG1438
δὲdethenG1161
λαλείτωlaleitōhe should speakG2980
καὶkaiandG2532
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷ.theōto God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 14:27

    If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:28

    But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:29

    Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si no hubiere intérprete, calle en la iglesia, y hable á sí mismo y á Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais s’il n’y a pas d’interprète, qu’il se taise dans l’assemblée, et qu’il parle à soi-même et à Dieu;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn aber kein Ausleger da ist, so schweige er in der Versammlung, rede aber sich selbst und Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si autem non fuerit interpres, taceat in ecclesia: sibi autem loquatur, et Deo.