Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, November 24th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Read the Bible

King James Version

1 Corinthians 14:4

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Language;   Preaching;   Tongues (the Gift);   The Topic Concordance - Prophecy and Prophets;   Tongues;   Understanding;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Church, the;   Edification;   Language;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Encouragement;   Prophecy, prophet;   Tongues;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Build up;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Worship of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Prophet;   Tongues, Gift of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Church;   Offices in the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Ethics;   Prophet;   Spiritual Gifts;   Tongues, Gift of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Acts of the Apostles;   Edification;   Metaphor;   Tongues Gift of;   Voice;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Edification;   Prophecy, Prophet;   Tongues, Gift of;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Mystery;   Synagogue;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apostle;   Builder;   Church;   Spiritual Gifts;   Tongues, Gift of;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Those who speak in a different language are helping only themselves. But those who prophesy are helping the whole church.
Revised Standard Version
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He that speaketh with tonges proffiteth him silfe: he that prophesyeth edifieth the congregacion.
Hebrew Names Version
He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
International Standard Version
The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds the church up.
New American Standard Bible
The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
New Century Version
The ones who speak in different languages are helping only themselves, but those who prophesy are helping the whole church.
Update Bible Version
He that speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.
Webster's Bible Translation
He that speaketh in an [unknown] language edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
English Standard Version
The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
World English Bible
He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
Weymouth's New Testament
He who speaks in an unknown tongue does good to himself, but he who prophesies does good to the Church.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that spekith in tunge, edifieth hym silf; but he that prophecieth, edifieth the chirche of God.
English Revised Version
He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Berean Standard Bible
The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
Contemporary English Version
By speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself. But by prophesying you help everyone in the church.
Amplified Bible
One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church [promotes growth in spiritual wisdom, devotion, holiness, and joy].
American Standard Version
He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Bible in Basic English
He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church.
Complete Jewish Bible
A person speaking in a tongue does edify himself, but a person prophesying edifies the congregation.
Darby Translation
He that speaks with a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies [the] assembly.
Etheridge Translation
He who speaketh in a tongue himself edifieth, and he who prophesieth the church edifieth.
Murdock Translation
He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: and he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
King James Version (1611)
He that speaketh in an vnknowen tongue, edifieth himselfe: but hee that prophesieth, edifieth the Church.
New Living Translation
A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
New Life Bible
The man who speaks in special sounds receives strength. The man who speaks God's Word gives strength to the church.
New Revised Standard
Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He that speaketh strange language, edifieth himselfe: but hee that prophecieth, edifieth the Church.
George Lamsa Translation
He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he who prophesies edifies the church.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He that speaketh with a tongue, buildeth up, himself, whereas, he that prophesieth, buildeth up, an assembly.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that speaketh with the tongue, edifieth hym selfe: he that prophesieth, edifieth the Churche.
Good News Translation
Those who speak in strange tongues help only themselves, but those who proclaim God's message help the whole church.
Christian Standard Bible®
The person who speaks in another tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
Lexham English Bible
The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
Literal Translation
The one speaking in a tongue builds himself up, but he prophesying builds up an assembly.
Young's Literal Translation
he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue, himself doth edify, and he who is prophesying, an assembly doth edify;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He that speaketh with tunges, edifieth himselfe: but he that prophecieth, edifieth the cogregacion.
Mace New Testament (1729)
he that speaks in an unknown tongue, edifies himself alone: but he that expounds, edifies the church.
THE MESSAGE
The one who prays using a private "prayer language" certainly gets a lot out of it, but proclaiming God's truth to the church in its common language brings the whole church into growth and strength. I want all of you to develop intimacies with God in prayer, but please don't stop with that. Go on and proclaim his clear truth to others. It's more important that everyone have access to the knowledge and love of God in language everyone understands than that you go off and cultivate God's presence in a mysterious prayer language—unless, of course, there is someone who can interpret what you are saying for the benefit of all.
New English Translation
The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
New King James Version
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Simplified Cowboy Version
A cowboy speaking in tongues helps themselves, but no one else. But those who hand out God's truth, they are helping everyone.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
Legacy Standard Bible
One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.

Contextual Overview

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For 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. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

edifieth himself: 1 Corinthians 14:14

edifieth the: 1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 14:18, 1 Corinthians 14:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:7 - a prophet Acts 9:31 - were edified 1 Corinthians 14:12 - seek 1 Corinthians 14:17 - but 1 Corinthians 14:26 - Let Ephesians 4:12 - the edifying

Cross-References

Ezekiel 17:15
But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He that speaketh its an unknown tongue,.... Be it the Hebrew language, or any other; some copies, and the Ethiopic version, read, "with tongues":

edifieth himself; his heart may be warmed, his affections raised, his devotion kept up, and he be in a very spiritual and comfortable frame, knowing and understanding what he himself says:

but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church: which is the great end of the Gospel ministry, which is for the edifying the body of the church: wherefore that which tends to the edification of more, even the whole church, must be preferable to that, which at most can only edify one, and that the speaker himself.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Edifieth himself - That is, the truths which are communicated to him by the Spirit, and which he utters in an unknown language, may be valuable, and may be the means of strengthening his faith, and building him up in the hopes of the gospel, but they can he of no use to others. His own holy affections might be excited by the truths which he would deliver, and the consciousness of possessing miraculous powers might excite his gratitude. And yet, as Doddridge has well remarked, there might be danger that a man might be injured by this gift when exercised in this ostentatious manner.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 14:4. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue — In the Hebrew for instance, the knowledge of the depth and power of which he has got by a Divine revelation, edifieth himself by that knowledge.

But he that prophesieth — Has the gift of preaching.

Edifieth the Church. — Speaketh unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort, 1 Corinthians 14:3.


 
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