But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
- BSB But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
- NKJV But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
- NASB But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
- NLT But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.
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
Those who refuse to recognize Paul's God-given authority are left in their ignorance. It matters as a sober warning against willful rejection of the Lord's word.
Overview
Paul offers no further argument to one who deliberately disregards apostolic teaching; such a person is simply left unacknowledged. The terse statement underscores that persistent refusal of God's word carries its own judgment. It calls hearers to humble receptiveness rather than stubborn self-confidence before the Lord who speaks.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Tim 4:3–4For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
- Matt 7:6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
- 1 Tim 6:3–5If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
- Rev 22:11–12He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
- Hos 4:17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
- Matt 15:14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 14:38 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.