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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:7 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Co 14:7 |
King James |
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? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Translate, "And things without life-giving sound, whether pipe or harp, YET (notwithstanding their giving sound) if they give not a distinction in the tones (that is, notes) how?" &c.
what is piped or harped--that is, what tune is played on the pipe or harp. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Things without life - Instruments of music.
Whether pipe - This instrument (αὐλὸς aulos) was usually made of reeds, and probably had a resemblance to a flageolet.
Or harp - This instrument (κιθάρα kithara) was a stringed instrument, and was made in the same way as a modern harp. It usually had ten strings, and was struck with the plectrum, or with a key. It was commonly employed in praise.
Except they give a distinction in the sounds - Unless they give a difference in the "tones," such as are indicated in the gamut for music.
How shall it be known ... - That is, there would be no time, no music. Nothing would be indicated by it. It would not be suited to excite the emotions of sorrow or of joy. All music is designed to excite emotions; but if there be no difference in the tones, no emotion would be produced. So it would be in words uttered. Unless there was something that was suited to excite thought or emotion; unless what was spoken was made "intelligible," no matter how important in itself it might be, yet it would be useless. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Voice (φωνὴν)
See on sound, Rom 10:18. The sound generally. Used sometimes of sounds emitted by things without life, as a trumpet or the wind. See Mat 24:31; Joh 3:8.
Harp (κιθάρα)
See on Rev 5:8.
Distinction (διαστολὴν)
Proper modulation. Compare the use of the word in Rom 3:22; Rom 10:12.
Sounds (φθόγγοις)
The distinctive sounds as modulated. See on Rom 10:18. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| How shall it be known what is piped or harped - What music can be made, or what end answered? |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| And even things without life - I may, as if he had said, illustrate this farther by referring to a pipe or harp; if these were to utter mere sounds without order, harmony, or melody, though every tone of music might be in the sounds, surely no person could discern a tune in such sounds, nor receive pleasure from such discords: even so is the person who speaks in an unknown tongue, but does not interpret. His speech tends no more to edification than those discordant and unmeaning sounds do to pleasure and delight. |
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.