if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to be talking in the assembly.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
- NASB If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
- NLT If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.
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 women wish to learn, they should ask their husbands at home, since speaking out in the assembly is shameful. The aim is orderly, respectful learning.
Overview
Paul completes the previous instruction by directing inquiries to be made at home rather than disrupting the meeting. Faithful interpreters relate this to the immediate setting of Corinthian worship and read it alongside Scripture's affirmation of women's fuller participation elsewhere. The governing concern remains decorum and edification, so that all things in the church reflect the peace of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Eph 5:12For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.
- 1 Pet 3:7You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.
- Eph 5:25–27Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;
- 1 Cor 11:6For if a woman is not covered, let her hair also be cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or be shaved, let her be covered.
- 1 Cor 11:14Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
- 1 Cor 14:34Let the women be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 14:35 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
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