1 Corinthians 14:34
Are to keep silent
The Greek word for silence in this verse means "1) to keep silence, hold one’s peace, 2) to be kept in silence, be concealed". In every case except two it is used in a manner that the person is quiet in order to allow another to speak or in order to not interrupt, fitting with the first definition (Luke 20:26; Acts 12:17, 15:12,13; 1 Cr 14:28,30,34). This word is used three times in this chapter and each time in this manner. A person is told to keep silent if there is no interpreter. The second time they are told to keep silent if another has a revelation. And the third time for women. These verses are dealing with when it is and when it is not appropriate to speak in the church publicly. It says it is not appropriate for a woman to speak in the assembly, without specification to a situation. Women are told to keep silent and not to speak out.
In the other two cases the word is used in the sense of the second definition "to be kept in silence, be concealed" (Rom 16:25; Luke 9:36).
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