1 Corinthians 14:34
32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
35 If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Let 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,
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- 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.
- BLB
- Let the women be silent in the churches. For it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be subject, as the law also says.
- ÅB
- Slik som i alle de helliges menigheter, skal deres kvinner tie i menighets-samlingene; for det tillates dem ikke å tale, men de skal underordne seg, som også loven sier.
- OTB
- Skal kvinnene forbli stille i menighetene; for de har ikke lov til å tale, men skal være underordnet, som loven også sier.
- B1930
- Likesom i alle de helliges menigheter, skal eders kvinner tie i menighets-samlingene; for det tillates dem ikke å tale, men de skal underordne sig, som også loven sier.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Timothy 2:11–12
A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.
Read in contextGenesis 3:16
To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
Read in contextNumbers 30:3–13
And if a woman in her father’s house during her youth makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge,
Read in contextColossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Read in context1 Corinthians 14:35
If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
Read in contextTitus 2:5
to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.
Read in context1 Peter 3:1–6
Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
Read in context1 Corinthians 11:5
And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.
Read in context