Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 14:34

What does 1 Corinthians 14:34 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 14:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 14:34 means

Within the broader call to order, Paul instructs women to keep silence in the churches and to be in subjection, as the law affirms. In context, he is curbing disorderly speech that disrupts the meeting’s peace and structure. The emphasis is on fitting conduct in the assembly, not on silencing all female participation in every sense. The principle is submission to the established order so that worship remains edifying and unconfused. Whatever the exact situations in Corinth, Paul’s concern is that the gathered church reflect God’s peace by avoiding practices that shamefully overturn proper order, especially through public speech that disrupts or disregards recognized authority.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Let 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.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Your 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;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak but to be subject, as also the law saith.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Let [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.

Context

This directive follows Paul’s universal appeal to God’s peace and the practices of all churches. It applies the principle of order to a specific area—women’s speech in the assembly—where Corinth may have experienced disorder. The next verse further specifies learning and questions as matters to handle at home. The placement suggests Paul is addressing disruptions, not contradicting the call for edifying contributions. Readers should keep the chapter’s aim in view: ensuring that all things in worship promote peace, learning, and order, under apostolic authority.

v.33for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

v.34This passage

v.35And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

Cross references

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

  • Ephesians 5:33

    Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.

  • Numbers 30:3

    Also when a woman voweth a vow unto Jehovah, and bindeth herself by a bond, being in her father’s house, in her youth,

  • Ephesians 5:22

    Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

  • 1 Timothy 2:11

    Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.

  • 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.

  • Titus 2:5

    to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:

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