✝
← Bible
ARCBLIVREKJVVBL

1 Corinthians 14

KJV · Chapter 14/16

1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

7And 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?

8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

16Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Paul compares the gift of prophecy with speaking in tongues, arguing that prophecy builds up the church more because it is understandable to everyone, while tongues without interpretation bring no benefit to the community. He asks that everything in worship be done in an orderly way.

Explanation

The chapter continues the theme of spiritual gifts, now focusing specifically on the comparison between strange tongues and prophecy. Paul does not devalue the gift of tongues, but argues that it is only useful in public if there is interpretation, since the goal of worship is the edification of the whole community, not just of the one exercising the gift. The emphasis falls on intelligibility: what good is it to say something no one understands? He also addresses practical rules for maintaining order in the gatherings, including specific instructions about women's participation, reflecting the cultural norms of that particular context. The timeless lesson of the chapter is that everything in the life of the church should aim at collective edification and be conducted in order, not confusion.

Fun facts

  • The quotation of Isaiah 28:11-12 (v. 21) originally referred to God's judgment on Israel through foreign invaders speaking incomprehensible languages — Paul reapplies it to explain the sign-purpose of strange tongues.
  • The closing statement, 'For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace' (v. 33), has become a widely cited guiding principle to this day for organizing Christian worship services and gatherings around the world.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:1After the chapter on love, Paul returns to the gifts, saying to pursue prophecy above all — because it builds up everyone, unlike speaking in a strange tongue without interpretation.
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:2“Speaking in a strange tongue” was a gift of prayer or praise in speech that even the speaker doesn’t understand rationally, which is why Paul says it’s like speaking “mysteries” directly to God, bypassing the mind. He doesn’t look down on the gift, he’s just showing that on its own it doesn’t teach anyone.
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:3By contrast, whoever prophesies speaks in a way others can understand, building up, encouraging, and comforting the church — Paul’s standard for valuing one gift above another.
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:4Sums up the difference in impact: speaking in a strange tongue builds up only the speaker; prophesying builds up the whole gathered church — a practical standard, not a spiritual hierarchy.
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:5Paul isn’t against speaking in tongues, he’d even like everyone to have that gift, but he prefers that they prophesy, unless someone also interprets so the church can understand and be built up.
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:6A practical question: what good would it do for Paul to come speaking in strange tongues if he didn’t also bring revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching the Corinthians could actually understand?
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:7Uses musical instruments as an example: a flute or harp that doesn’t play distinct notes doesn’t communicate any recognizable melody — sound without clarity is useless.
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:8Same idea with the military trumpet: if the call is confused, no one knows they need to prepare for battle — clarity of communication is a practical matter, not a luxury.
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:9Applies the examples directly: speaking in a tongue no one understands is like speaking “into the air,” with no real communication happening at all.
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:10Acknowledges that there are many languages in the world, and each one has its own meaning for those who understand it — the problem isn’t the language itself, it’s the lack of translation.
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:11If someone doesn’t understand the language being spoken, both sides of the conversation become “foreigners” to each other — an image that reinforces the problem of speaking without interpretation in the church.
  12. 1 Corinthians 14:12Wraps up the first part of the argument: since the Corinthians are so eager for spiritual gifts, they should direct that zeal toward gifts that build up the church, not just impress people.
  13. 1 Corinthians 14:13Practical solution: whoever has the gift of speaking in a strange tongue should also pray for the gift of interpretation, so the message can be understood by everyone.
  14. 1 Corinthians 14:14Explains the dilemma of praying only in a strange tongue: the person’s spirit prays normally, but their mind is left understanding nothing of what’s being said.
  15. 1 Corinthians 14:15Paul’s solution: pray and sing with both the spirit and the understanding — both sides together, one not replacing the other.
  16. 1 Corinthians 14:16If someone blesses or prays only in a strange tongue, an ordinary member of the congregation can’t even say “Amen” from the heart, because they haven’t understood anything that was said.
  17. 1 Corinthians 14:17Acknowledges that the person praying in a strange tongue may be giving thanks to God just fine, but that doesn’t help at all the one listening who doesn’t understand.
  18. 1 Corinthians 14:18Paul sets himself up as an example, saying he speaks in tongues more than all the Corinthians put together — it isn’t lack of experience with the gift that makes him prioritize clarity.
  19. 1 Corinthians 14:19Even with that gift, he’d rather speak a few understandable words in church, able to teach someone, than a huge number of words in a tongue no one understands.
  20. 1 Corinthians 14:20Calls for mature thinking: “in malice be ye children,” that is, be innocent, but be grown-ups in understanding — a rebuke of the immaturity that was causing confusion in Corinth’s gatherings.
  21. 1 Corinthians 14:21Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, who spoke of a time when God would speak to Israel through foreign invaders, in a language the people didn’t understand, as a sign of judgment. He uses this quotation to argue that strange tongues without an interpreter confuse the church more than they build it up.
  22. 1 Corinthians 14:22Explains the purpose of strange tongues: they serve as a sign aimed more at unbelievers, while prophecy serves as a sign aimed more at those who already believe.
  23. 1 Corinthians 14:23A practical scenario: if the whole church speaks in tongues at the same time and a visitor walks in, they’ll think everyone has gone mad — an image that exposes the problem of disorder in the gatherings.
  24. 1 Corinthians 14:24But if everyone is prophesying in an understandable way, an unbelieving visitor can be convinced and confronted by their own conscience through what they hear.
  25. 1 Corinthians 14:25Continues the scenario: the secrets of that visitor’s heart are exposed, leading them to fall on their face and recognize that God is truly present there.
  26. 1 Corinthians 14:26Describes what a gathering of the Corinthian church actually looked like in practice: each person arrived with a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation — Paul asks that all of it serve to build up, not to cause confusion.
  27. 1 Corinthians 14:27A practical rule for strange tongues: at most two or three people, one at a time, and always with someone interpreting — organization, not a ban on the gift.
  28. 1 Corinthians 14:28If there’s no one to interpret, the person should stay silent in the public gathering and speak in a strange tongue only in private, between themselves and God.
  29. 1 Corinthians 14:29A similar rule for prophecy: two or three prophets speak at a time, and the others weigh what was said — not everything said in the name of prophecy was accepted without examination.
  30. 1 Corinthians 14:30If someone sitting down receives a revelation while another is speaking, the one already speaking should yield the floor — a practical order to avoid interruption and confusion.
  31. 1 Corinthians 14:31Justifies the previous rule: everyone can prophesy, one at a time, so that the whole church can learn and be encouraged — it’s not a limitation on the gift, it’s organizing how it’s used.
  32. 1 Corinthians 14:32An important principle: even a person’s prophetic impulse remains under that person’s own control — it isn’t uncontrollable possession, the prophet can wait their turn.
  33. 1 Corinthians 14:33Grounds all these rules of order in God’s own character: He is not a God of confusion, but of peace — and this applies equally in all the churches, not just in Corinth.
  34. 1 Corinthians 14:34This is one of the passages that divides readers most today. In the culture of the time, it was considered improper for a woman to speak publicly questioning her husband or the teachers in an assembly, and Paul asks that they ask at home — but there are different readings about whether this is a permanent rule or guidance for one specific situation in that church.
  35. 1 Corinthians 14:35Continues the instruction about the women from the previous verse: if they want to ask questions, let them ask their own husbands at home — guidance tied to the context of order in Corinth’s gatherings.
  36. 1 Corinthians 14:36An ironic question that corrects the Corinthians’ arrogance: did the word of God originate with them, or did it merely reach them? No one has the authority to invent rules apart from the other churches.
  37. 1 Corinthians 14:37Whoever truly considers themselves a prophet or spiritual person should recognize that the instructions Paul is giving aren’t his personal opinion, but a commandment from the Lord Himself.
  38. 1 Corinthians 14:38If someone doesn’t recognize the authority of Paul’s instructions, the text itself leaves that person to their own choice — it’s not worth forcing the recognition.
  39. 1 Corinthians 14:39Paul closes the chapter with balance: he wants the church to desire to prophesy, that is, to speak in an understandable way, but without forbidding strange tongues, as long as everything happens in order, without confusion in worship.
  40. 1 Corinthians 14:40The chapter’s practical conclusion: do all of this, the gifts, the gatherings, the tongues and prophecies, decently and in order, not with confusion.

Chapters

12345678910111213141516

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

App StoreGoogle Play

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.

App StoreGoogle Play