What Does 1 Corinthians 14:30 Mean in the King James?

If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
1 Corinthians 14:30 · KJV
The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

When something is uncovered to another, the first speaker’s silence makes room for it to be heard.

When something is revealed to another person in the gathering, the one speaking falls silent. The new unveiling changes the movement of speech, and the first voice gives way so the other can be heard.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that the first to speak owns the floor until they choose to stop; another person’s revelation can bring that speech to a pause.

ἀποκαλυφθῇ

apokalyphthē

GROWS FROM

καλυπ-

kalyp-

to cover or conceal; with ⁨ἀπο-⁩ (apo-, away), the verb carries the sense of uncovering

“revealed” in this verse is apokalyphthē. The verb pictures what is covered being uncovered: what comes to light in another person is named as revelation, not merely as an interruption. The first speaker’s silence follows that unveiling and gives it room to be heard.

ALSO GROWS

kalýptō: to cover, conceal

καλύπτω

This is the covering held within the word for revelation; what is revealed is what was covered now brought into view.

apokálypsis: revelation, unveiling

ἀποκάλυψις

This noun shares the same word family and names the uncovering that shifts who is speaking in the verse.

σιγάτω

sigátō

GROWS FROM

σιγ-

sig-

silence; being quiet

“hold his peace” in this verse is sigátō. The verb means to be silent, while the surrounding words give that silence its turn-taking role. The same verb family appears when a gathered multitude falls quiet to hear another testimony in Acts 15:12.

ALSO GROWS

sigē: silence

σιγή

The noun names the quiet that the verb in this verse calls for.

sigáō: to be silent, keep quiet

σιγάω

This is the verb’s dictionary form and the same word family used for the multitude’s silence in Acts 15:12.

Speech in a gathering makes room for another voice in turn, so what is shared can be heard.

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Ecclesiastes 3:7 · KJVThe verse places silence and speech within a rhythm where each has its time.
Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Acts 15:12 · KJVThe gathered multitude becomes quiet so Barnabas and Paul can be heard.
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1 Corinthians 14:31 · KJVSpeaking one by one lets every voice be heard and allows the whole gathering to learn.
Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Acts 15:12 · KJV

“Kept silence” uses the same Greek verb family as “hold his peace” here. In both verses, the gathered people fall quiet so another voice can be heard.

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1 Corinthians 14:30 KJV Meaning