If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
- BSB And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
- NKJV But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
- NASB But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent.
- NLT But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If a revelation comes to another seated nearby, the first speaker should stop. Prophets must yield to one another in turn.
Overview
Paul instructs prophets to give way when another receives something to share. This courtesy ensures orderly, sequential ministry rather than competition. The willingness to defer reflects the love and mutual regard that should mark every exercise of gifts within Christ's body.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Th 5:19–20Quench not the Spirit.
- Job 32:11Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
- Job 33:31–33Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
- 1 Cor 14:26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
- 1 Cor 14:6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
- Job 32:15–20They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 14:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.