But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
- KJV But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
- BSB But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
- 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 listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts;
- Matt 7:6“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
- 1 Tim 6:3–5If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,
- Rev 22:11–12He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”
- Hos 4:17Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!
- Matt 15:14Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 14:38 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.