Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
Parallel translations
- WEB For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
- KJV For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
- NKJV For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
- NASB For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
- NLT And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
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 trumpet gives an unclear sound, no one prepares for battle. Unclear communication leaves people unready to respond.
Overview
Paul adds a second illustration: a war trumpet must sound a clear call for soldiers to act. An indistinct signal produces confusion and inaction. Applied to the church, this shows that unintelligible speech cannot summon believers to faith and obedience, so the gifts must be used clearly for the good of all.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Num 10:9When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who attacks you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and saved from your enemies.
- Ezek 33:3–6and he sees the sword coming against that land and blows the ram’s horn to warn the people.
- Jer 4:19My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle.
- Isa 27:13And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
- Job 39:24–25Trembling with excitement, he devours the distance; he cannot stand still when the ram’s horn sounds.
- Amos 3:6If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?
- Joel 2:1Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—
- Neh 4:18–21And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.
- Eph 6:11–18Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
- Judg 7:16–18And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch.
- Josh 6:4–20Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns.
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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.
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Original language
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