But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
- KJV If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
- 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.
- 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 5:19–20Don’t quench the Spirit.
- Job 32:11“Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say.
- Job 33:31–33Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
- 1 Cor 14:26What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
- 1 Cor 14:6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
- Job 32:15–20“They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say.
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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.