1 Corinthians 14 · Verse 38

1 Corinthians 14:38

But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
1 Corinthians 14:38, King James Version

1 Corinthians 14:38 in other translations

BSBBut if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
WEBBut if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
ASVBut if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
YLTand if any one is ignorant--let him be ignorant;
DARBYBut if any be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
BBEBut if any man is without knowledge, let him be so.
WebsterBut if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

What does 1 Corinthians 14:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
38. if any man be ignorant--wilfully; not wishing to recognize these ordinances and my apostolic authority in enjoining them. let him be ignorant--I leave him to his ignorance: it will be at his own peril; I feel it a waste of words to speak anything further to convince him. An argument likely to have weight with the Corinthians, who admired "knowledge" so much.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 38. But if any man be ignorant, etc. If any one affects to be ignorant of my authority, or whether I have a right to command. If he affects to doubt whether I am inspired, and whether what I utter is in accordance with the will of God.

Let him be ignorant. At his own peril, let him remain so, and abide the consequences. I shall not take any further trouble to debate with him. I have stated my authority. I have delivered the commands of God. And now, if he disregards them, and still doubts whether all this is said by Divine authority, let him abide the consequences of rejecting the law of God. I have given full proof of my Divine commission. I have nothing more to say on that head. And now, if he chooses to remain in ignorance or incredulity, the fault is his own, and he must answer for it to God.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 But if any man be ignorant - If he affect to be so, or pretend that he is ignorant; let him be ignorant - let him be so at his peril.

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…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 14:34-40 →

1 Corinthians 14:38 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.

εἰeiIfG1487
δέdehoweverG1161
τιςtisanyoneG5100
ἀγνοεῖ,agnoeiis ignorant,G50
ἀγνοεῖται.¶agnoeitaihim is ignored.G50

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 14:38

  • 2 Timothy 4:3-4

    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • 1 Timothy 6:3-5

    If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

  • Matthew 7:6

    Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

  • Revelation 22:11-12

    He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

  • Hosea 4:17

    Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

  • Matthew 15:14

    Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ho 4:17; Mt 7:6; 15:14; 1Ti 6:3-5; 2Ti 4:3,4; Re 22:11,12

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 14:37

    If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:38

    But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:39

    Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas el que ignora, ignore.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si quelqu’un est ignorant, qu’il soit ignorant.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn aber jemand unwissend ist, so sei er unwissend.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si quis autem ignorat, ignorabitur.