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Word Studies — pvj-14: Women "Keep Silence" vs Jesus Teaching Women

G4601 — sigao (keep silent)

  • Transliteration: sigao
  • POS: verb
  • Occurrences: 9x in NT
  • Usage in 1 Corinthians 14:
  • 14:28 — tongue-speaker told to sigao if no interpreter
  • 14:30 — prophet told to sigao if another receives revelation
  • 14:34 — women told to sigao in the churches
  • Observation: The same word sigao is used for THREE groups told to be silent in this chapter: tongue-speakers (v.28), prophets (v.30), and women (v.34). For the first two groups, the silence is conditional and contextual, not absolute.

G2271 — hesuchia (quietness/silence)

  • Transliteration: hesuchia
  • POS: feminine noun
  • Occurrences: 4x in NT (Acts 22:2; 2 Thess 3:12; 1 Tim 2:11, 2:12)
  • Note: A different word from sigao. Carries a connotation of "quietness" or "tranquility" rather than strictly "not speaking."
  • 2 Thess 3:12 uses hesuchia for people working quietly — not absolute silence

G1321 — didasko (teach)

  • Transliteration: didasko
  • POS: verb
  • Occurrences: 97x in NT
  • Used extensively of Jesus's teaching ministry
  • Used in 1 Tim 2:12 — "I suffer not a woman to teach (didaskein)"
  • Also used in Titus 2:3 context: aged women as "teachers (kalodidaskalos) of good things"

G831 — authenteo (usurp authority / exercise authority)

  • Transliteration: authenteo
  • POS: verb
  • Occurrences: 1x in NT (HAPAX LEGOMENON) — only 1 Tim 2:12
  • Definition debated: "to act of oneself" / "to exercise authority" / "to domineer"
  • KJV translates as "usurp authority" (suggesting illegitimate authority)
  • The hapax legomenon status means its NT meaning must be determined from context and extra-biblical usage
  • If the normal word for authority (exousia) was meant, Paul had that word available

G4395 — propheteuo (prophesy)

  • Transliteration: propheteuo
  • POS: verb
  • Occurrences: 28x in NT
  • 1 Cor 11:5 — "every woman that prayeth or prophesieth" — present active participle, feminine
  • 1 Cor 14:1,31,39 — prophesying encouraged for all
  • Acts 2:17-18 — daughters and handmaidens shall prophesy (fulfillment of Joel)
  • Acts 21:9 — Philip's four daughters prophesied

G1249 — diakonos (servant/deacon)

  • Transliteration: diakonos
  • POS: masculine/feminine noun
  • Occurrences: 31x in NT
  • Rom 16:1 — Phoebe called "diakonon tes ekklesias" (deacon/servant of the church)
  • Same word used for male church officers in 1 Tim 3:8,12; Phil 1:1
  • Also used of Christ (Rom 15:8) and Paul himself (1 Cor 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6)

G652 — apostolos (apostle)

  • Transliteration: apostolos
  • POS: masculine noun
  • Occurrences: 81x in NT
  • Rom 16:7 — Andronicus and Junia "of note among the apostles"
  • The Greek can mean "notable among the apostles" (they are apostles) or "well-known to the apostles" (the apostles know them) — grammatically debated

G2980 — laleo (speak)

  • Transliteration: laleo
  • POS: verb
  • Used in 1 Cor 14:34 — "not permitted unto them to speak (lalein)"
  • Same word used throughout 1 Cor 14 for speaking in tongues (14:2,4,5,6,9,13,18,19,27)
  • General word for speaking — does not specify authoritative teaching