1 Corinthians 14:19
17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
- KJV
- Yet 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.
- WEB
- However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
- ASV
- howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
- DARBY
- but in [the] assembly I desire to speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, [rather] than ten thousand words in a tongue.
- BLB
- But in the church, I wish to speak five words with my mind, so that also I might instruct others, rather than myriads of words in a tongue.
- ÅB
- men i en menighets-samling vil jeg heller tale fem ord med min forstand, for derved å lære andre, enn ti tusen ord med tunge.
- OTB
- Likevel, i menigheten, vil jeg heller tale fem ord med forståelse, for også å undervise andre, enn ti tusen ord i en tunge.
- B1930
- men i en menighets-samling vil jeg heller tale fem ord med min forstand, for derved å lære andre, enn ti tusen ord med tunge.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Corinthians 14:21–22
It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”
Read in context1 Corinthians 14:4
The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
Read in context