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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.”
- 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 it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
- 1 Pet 3:7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
- Eph 5:25–27Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
- 1 Cor 11:6For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
- 1 Cor 11:14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
- 1 Cor 14:34Let 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.
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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