Parallel Verses
Darby Translation
Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they give not distinction to the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
New American Standard Bible
Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
King James Version
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Holman Bible
Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp
International Standard Version
In the same way, lifeless instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. But if there's no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played?
A Conservative Version
Likewise lifeless things that give a sound, whether flute or harp, if they give no distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?
American Standard Version
Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Amplified
Yet even lifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct [musical] tones, how will anyone [listening] know what is piped or played?
An Understandable Version
[This is true] even of inanimate objects which make sounds, such as a flute or harp. If they do not make distinguishable sounds, how will anyone know what tune [or signal] is being played?
Anderson New Testament
And even lifeless instruments, which produce sound, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the notes, how shall that which is piped or harped be known?
Bible in Basic English
Even things without life, having a voice, such as a music-pipe or other instrument, if they do not give out different sounds, who may be certain what is being played?
Common New Testament
If even lifeless things, such as the flute or the harp, do not give a distinction in the notes, how will any one know what is played?
Daniel Mace New Testament
And even inanimate instruments of sound, whether pipe or harp, except they have a distinct variety of notes, how can they express any significant tune?
Godbey New Testament
Nevertheless things without life, giving forth a voice, whether pipe or harp, if it may not give a distinction to the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped, or what is harped?
Goodspeed New Testament
Even inanimate things, like the flute or the harp, may produce sound, but if there is no difference in the notes, how can you tell what is being played?
John Wesley New Testament
So inanimate things which give a sound, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Julia Smith Translation
As inanimate things giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if it give not a distinction to sounds, how shall the piping or harping be known?
King James 2000
And even things without life which give sound, whether flute or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is played?
Lexham Expanded Bible
Likewise, the inanimate things which produce a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the lyre?
Modern King James verseion
Yet lifeless things giving a sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the sound, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Moreover when things without life give sound: whether it be a pipe, or a harp - except they make a distinction in the sounds - how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Moffatt New Testament
Inanimate instruments, such as the flute or the harp, may give a sound, but if no intervals occur in their music, how can one make out the air that is being played either on flute or on harp?
Montgomery New Testament
For if lifeless instruments such as the flute or the harp give no distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is fluted or harped?
NET Bible
It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood?
New Heart English Bible
Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they did not give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
Noyes New Testament
And even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, if they make no distinction in the sounds, how shall that be known which is piped or harped?
Sawyer New Testament
So of irrational objects making a sound, whether a flute or harp; if it makes no distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is played on the flute or harp?
The Emphasized Bible
In like manner, the things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, if, a distinction in the sounds, they do not give, how shall it be known, what is being piped or harped?
Thomas Haweis New Testament
In like manner things inanimate, giving sound, whether the pipe, or the harp, unless they express a distinction in their tones, how shall it be known what is piped, or what is harped?
Twentieth Century New Testament
Even with inanimate things, such as a flute or a harp, though they produce sounds, yet unless the notes are quite distinct, how can the tune played on the flute or the harp be recognized?
Webster
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Weymouth New Testament
Even inanimate things--flutes or harps, for instance--when yielding a sound, if they make no distinction in the notes, how shall the tune which is played on the flute or the harp be known?
Williams New Testament
Even inanimate things, like the flute or the harp, may give out sounds, but if there is no difference in the notes, how can the tune that is played on the flute or the harp be told?
World English Bible
Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
Worrell New Testament
Even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, if they give no distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Worsley New Testament
As inanimate things which give a found, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall what is piped or harped be understood?
Youngs Literal Translation
yet the things without life giving sound -- whether pipe or harp -- if a difference in the sounds they may not give, how shall be known that which is piped or that which is harped?
Themes
Language » Power of speaking different » Sometimes abused
Prophecy and prophets » Prophesying vs. Tongues
Tongues » Tongues vs. Prophesying
Tongues (the gift) » The miraculous gift granted to some early Christians
Interlinear
Eite
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Usage: 199
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in 1 Corinthians 14:7
Verse Info
Context Readings
Appropriate Use Of Prophecy And Tongues
6 And now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? 7 Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they give not distinction to the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For also, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for war?
Phrases
Names
Cross References
Numbers 10:2-10
Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them; and they shall serve for the calling together of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Matthew 11:17
say, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced: we have mourned to you, and ye have not wailed.
Luke 7:32
They are like children sitting in the market-place, and calling one to another and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 14:8
For also, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for war?