Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 14:33

What does 1 Corinthians 14:33 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 14:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 14:33 means

God’s nature shapes the church’s worship. He is the God of peace, not disorder, so gatherings that bear his name should reflect calm, clarity, and harmony. Confusion is not a mark of the Spirit’s presence. Paul universalizes this standard by appealing to the custom of all the churches: the order he teaches is not peculiar to Corinth. This verse both reassures and corrects—reassures that order is godly, corrects the impulse to measure spirituality by chaos. Worship that mirrors God’s peace fosters learning, mutual respect, and the kind of environment where outsiders can recognize that God is truly among his people.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For God is not a God whose ways are without order, but a God of peace; as in all the churches of the saints.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for God is not <FI>a God<Fi> of tumult, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For God is not the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach in all the churches of the saints.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

ForGod is not [aGod] of disorder but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

Context

After insisting that prophetic spirits are subject to prophets, Paul grounds the call to order in God’s character and in the practice of all the churches. This gives weight to the forthcoming instructions on conduct, including the controversial guidance about women’s silence in the assembly. The flow emphasizes that the following directives are not arbitrary or local quirks, but consistent applications of God’s desire for peace, unity, and edification in corporate worship.

v.32and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;

v.33This passage

v.34let 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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

  • Hebrews 13:20

    Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,

  • 1 Corinthians 14:40

    But let all things be done decently and in order.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

  • Acts 9:13

    But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:16

    Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

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