1 Corinthians 14 · Verse 34

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.
1 Corinthians 14:34, King James Version

1 Corinthians 14:34 in other translations

BSBWomen are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
WEBLet 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,
ASVlet 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.
YLTYour women in the assemblies let them be silent, for it hath not been permitted to them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith;
DARBYLet your women be silent in the assemblies, for it is not permitted to them to speak; but to be in subjection, as the law also says.
BBELet women keep quiet in the churches: for it is not right for them to be talking; but let them be under control, as it says in the law.
WebsterLet your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak: but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

What does 1 Corinthians 14:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
34. (1Ti 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 1Co 11:3; Ep 5:22; Tit 2:5; 1Pe 3:1). For "under obedience," translate, "in subjection" or "submission," as the Greek is translated (Ep 5:21, 22, 24). the law--a term applied to the whole Old Testament; here, Ge 3:16.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 34. Let your women keep silence, etc. This rule is positive: explicit and universal. There is no ambiguity in the expressions; and there can be no difference of opinion, one would suppose, in regard to their meaning. The sense evidently is, that in all those things which he had specified, the women were to keep silence; they were to take no part. He had discoursed of speaking foreign languages, and of prophecy; and the evident sense is, that in regard to all these they were to keep silence, or were not to engage in them. These pertained solely to the male portion of the congregation. These things constituted the business of the public teaching; and in this the female part of the congregation were to be silent. "They were not to teach the people, nor were they to interrupt those who were speaking."--Rosenmuller. It is probable that, on pretence of being inspired, the women had assumed the office of public teachers. In 1Cor 11 Paul had argued against their doing this in a certain manner--without their veils, (1Cor 11:5;) and he had shown that, on that account, and in that manner, it was improper for them to assume the office of public teachers, and to conduct the devotions of the church. The force of the argument in 1Cor 11 is, that what he there states would be a sufficient reason against the practice, even if there were no other. It was contrary to all decency and propriety that they should appear in that manner in public. He here argues against the practice ON EVERY GROUND; forbids it altogether; and shows that on every consideration it was to be regarded as improper for them even so much as to ask a question in time of public service. There is, therefore, no inconsistency between the argument in 1Cor 11 and the statement here; and the force of the whole is, that on every consideration it was improper, and to be expressly prohibited, for women to conduct the devotions of the church. It does not refer to those only who claimed to be inspired, but to all; it does not refer merely to acts of public preaching, but to all acts of speaking, or even asking questions, when the church is assembled for public worship. No rule in the New Testament is more positive than this; and however plausible may be the reasons which may be urged for disregarding it, and for suffering women to take part in conducting public worship, yet the authority of the apostle Paul is positive, and his meaning cannot be mistaken. Comp. 1Timm 2:11,12.

To be under obedience. To be subject to their husbands; to acknowledge the superior authority of the man. 1Cor 11:3.

As also saith the law. Gen 3:16, "And thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

(c) "Let your women" 1Timm 2:11,12 (d) "under obedience" Eph 5:22, Tit 2:5, 1Pet 3:1 (e) "saith the law" Gen 3:16, Nu 30:3-12, Est 1:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches - This was a Jewish ordinance; women were not permitted to teach in the assemblies, or even to ask questions. The rabbins taught that "a woman should know nothing but the use of her distaff." And the sayings of Rabbi Eliezer, as delivered, Bammidbar Rabba, sec. 9, fol. 204, are both worthy of remark and of execration; they are these: ישרפו דברי תורה ואל ימסרו לנשים yisrephu dibrey torah veal yimsaru lenashim, "Let the words of the law be burned, rather than that they should be delivered to women." This was their condition till the time of the Gospel, when, according to the prediction of Joel, the Spirit of God was to be poured out on the women as well as the men, that they might prophesy, i.e. teach. And that they did prophesy or teach is evident from what the apostle says, 1Cor 11:5, where he lays down rules to regulate this part of their conduct while ministering in the church. But does not what the apostle says here contradict that statement, and show that the words in chap. 11 should be understood in another sense? For, here it is expressly said that they should keep silence in the church; for it was not permitted to a woman to speak. Both places seem perfectly consistent. It is evident from the context that the apostle refers here to asking questions, and what we call dictating in the assemblies. It was permitted to any man to ask questions, to object, altercate, attempt to refute, etc., in the synagogue; but this liberty was not allowed to any woman. St. Paul confirms this in reference also to the Christian Church; he orders them to keep silence; and, if they wished to learn any thing, let them inquire of their husbands at home; because it was perfectly indecorous for women to be contending with men in public assemblies, on points of doctrine, cases of conscience, etc. But this by no means intimated that when a woman received any particular influence from God to enable her to teach, that she was not to obey that influence; on the contrary, she was to obey it, and the apostle lays down directions in chap. 11 for regulating her personal appearance when thus employed. All that the apostle opposes here is their questioning, finding fault, disputing, etc., in the Christian Church, as the Jewish men were permitted to do in their synagogues; together with the attempts to usurp any authority over the man, by setting up their judgment in opposition to them; for the apostle has in view, especially, acts of disobedience, arrogance, etc., of which no woman would be guilty who was under the influence of the Spirit of God. But - to be under obedience, as also saith the law - This is a reference to Gen 3:16 : Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. From this it is evident that it was the disorderly and disobedient that the apostle had in view; and not any of those on whom God had poured out his Spirit.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:34-40
When the apostle exhorts Christian women to seek information on religious subjects from their husbands at home, it shows that believing families ought to assemble for promoting spiritual knowledge. The Spirit of Christ can never contradict itself; and if their revelations are against those of the apostle, they do not come from the same Spirit. The way to keep peace, truth, and order in the church, is to seek that which is good for it, to bear with that which is not hurtful to its welfare, and to keep up good behaviour, order, and decency.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Corinthians 14:34 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.

ΑἱHaitheG3588
γυναῖκεςgunaikeswomenG1135
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
ἐνeninG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
ἐκκλησίαιςekklēsiaischurchesG1577
σιγάτωσαν·sigatōsanthey should be silent;G4601
οὐouNotG3756
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐπιτρέπεταιepitrepetaiit is allowedG2010
αὐταῖςautaisto themG846
λαλεῖν,laleinto speak,G2980
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ὑποτασσέσθωσανhupotassesthōsanthey should be submittedG5293
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
καὶkaialsoG2532
ὁhotheG3588
νόμοςnomoslawG3551
λέγει.legeisays.G3004

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 14:34

  • 1 Timothy 2:11-12

    Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 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 30:3-13

    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; And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; …

  • 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.

  • Titus 2:5

    To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

  • 1 Peter 3:1-6

    Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. …

  • 1 Corinthians 11:5

    But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:3

    But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

  • Ephesians 5:22-24

    Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:7-10

    For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

  • Ephesians 5:33

    Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
women.
11:5; 1Ti 2:11,12
they are.
35; 11:3,7-10; Eph 5:22-24,33; Col 3:18; Tit 2:5; 1Pe 3:1-6
as.
21; Ge 3:16; Nu 30:3-13; Es 1:17-20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 14:33

    For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Vuestras mujeres callen en las congregaciones; porque no les es permitido hablar, sino que estén sujetas, como también la ley dice.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que vos femmes se taisent dans les assemblées, car il ne leur est pas permis de parler; mais qu’elles soient soumises, comme le dit aussi la loi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Eure Weiber sollen schweigen in den Versammlungen, denn es ist ihnen nicht erlaubt zu reden, sondern unterwürfig zu sein, wie auch das Gesetz sagt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Mulieres in ecclesiis taceant, non enim permittitur eis loqui, sed subditas esse, sicut et lex dicit.