1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 14:1–5

1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

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Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Corinthians 14:1

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
Earnestly pursueΔιώκετεDiōketeVerb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person PluralG1377 I pursue, persecute
loveἀγάπηνagapēnNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularG26 love
andδὲdeConjunctionG1161 but, on the other hand, and
eagerly desireζηλοῦτεzēlouteVerb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person PluralG2206 I am jealous, eager for
spiritual giftsπνευματικάpneumatikaAdjective - Accusative Neuter PluralG4152 spiritual
especiallyμᾶλλονmallonAdverbG3123 more, rather
of prophecyπροφητεύητεprophēteuēteVerb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person PluralG4395 I foretell, prophesy

1 Corinthians 14:2

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
ForγὰρgarConjunctionG1063 for
he whoὁhoArticle - Nominative Masculine SingularG3588 the
speaksλαλῶνlalōnVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularG2980 I speak, say
in a tongueγλώσσῃglōssēNoun - Dative Feminine SingularG1100 the tongue, a language, nation
does not speakλαλεῖlaleiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG2980 I speak, say
to menἀνθρώποιςanthrōpoisNoun - Dative Masculine PluralG444 a man, one of the human race
butἀλλὰallaConjunctionG235 but, except
to GodΘεῷTheōNoun - Dative Masculine SingularG2316 God, a god
IndeedγὰρgarConjunctionG1063 for
no oneοὐδεὶςoudeisAdjective - Nominative Masculine SingularG3762 no one, none, nothing
understandsἀκούειakoueiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG191 I hear, listen
he uttersλαλεῖlaleiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG2980 I speak, say
mysteriesμυστήριαmystēriaNoun - Accusative Neuter PluralG3466 anything hidden, a mystery
in the SpiritπνεύματιpneumatiNoun - Dative Neuter SingularG4151 wind, breath, spirit

1 Corinthians 14:3

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
ButδὲdeConjunctionG1161 but, on the other hand, and
he whoὁhoArticle - Nominative Masculine SingularG3588 the
prophesiesπροφητεύωνprophēteuōnVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularG4395 I foretell, prophesy
speaksλαλεῖlaleiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG2980 I speak, say
to menἀνθρώποιςanthrōpoisNoun - Dative Masculine PluralG444 a man, one of the human race
edificationοἰκοδομὴνoikodomēnNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularG3619 the act of building, a building, edification
encouragementπαράκλησινparaklēsinNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularG3874 exhortation, entreaty, encouragement, comfort
andκαὶkaiConjunctionG2532 and, even, also, namely
comfortπαραμυθίανparamythianNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularG3889 encouragement, comfort

1 Corinthians 14:4

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
TheὁhoArticle - Nominative Masculine SingularG3588 the
speaksλαλῶνlalōnVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularG2980 I speak, say
in a tongueγλώσσῃglōssēNoun - Dative Feminine SingularG1100 the tongue, a language, nation
edifiesοἰκοδομεῖoikodomeiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG3618 I build, build up, edify
himselfἑαυτὸνheautonReflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularG1438 himself, herself, itself
butδὲdeConjunctionG1161 but, on the other hand, and
theὁhoArticle - Nominative Masculine SingularG3588 the
prophesiesπροφητεύωνprophēteuōnVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularG4395 I foretell, prophesy
edifiesοἰκοδομεῖoikodomeiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG3618 I build, build up, edify
churchἐκκλησίανekklēsianNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularG1577 an assembly, congregation, church

1 Corinthians 14:5

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
I wish thatΘέλωThelōVerb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG2309 I will, wish, desire
allπάνταςpantasAdjective - Accusative Masculine PluralG3956 all, the whole, every kind of
of youὑμᾶςhymasPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person PluralG4771 you
could speakλαλεῖνlaleinVerb - Present Infinitive ActiveG2980 I speak, say
in tonguesγλώσσαιςglōssaisNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG1100 the tongue, a language, nation
butδὲdeConjunctionG1161 but, on the other hand, and
ratherμᾶλλονmallonAdverbG3123 more, rather
haveἵναhinaConjunctionG2443 in order that, so that
you prophesyπροφητεύητεprophēteuēteVerb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person PluralG4395 I foretell, prophesy
He whoὁhoArticle - Nominative Masculine SingularG3588 the
prophesiesπροφητεύωνprophēteuōnVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularG4395 I foretell, prophesy
greaterμείζωνmeizōnAdjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - ComparativeG3173 large, great
thanἢēConjunctionG2228 or, than
speaksλαλῶνlalōnVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularG2980 I speak, say
in tonguesγλώσσαιςglōssaisNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG1100 the tongue, a language, nation
unlessἐκτὸςektosAdverbG1622 without, outside, except, the outside, apart from
he interpretsδιερμηνεύῃdiermēneuēVerb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person SingularG1329 I translate, interpret, explain
so thatἵναhinaConjunctionG2443 in order that, so that
theἡhēArticle - Nominative Feminine SingularG3588 the
churchἐκκλησίαekklēsiaNoun - Nominative Feminine SingularG1577 an assembly, congregation, church
may beλάβῃlabēVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person SingularG2983 I receive, take
edifiedοἰκοδομὴνoikodomēnNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularG3619 the act of building, a building, edification

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Corinthians 14:1 1 Timothy 4:14 · 1 Corinthians 14:39 · 1 Corinthians 16:14 · 1 Thessalonians 5:20 · 1 Corinthians 12:1 · Hebrews 12:14 · 1 Corinthians 14:3–5 · 1 Corinthians 13:13 · Proverbs 15:9 · 1 Peter 3:11–13 · 1 Timothy 6:11 · 1 Corinthians 14:37

1 Corinthians 14:2 Mark 16:17 · Acts 19:6 · Acts 10:46 · Acts 2:4–11 · 1 Corinthians 13:2 · 1 Corinthians 2:10 · Colossians 1:26–27 · Ephesians 3:3–9 · 1 Corinthians 14:9–11 · Revelation 10:7 · 1 Timothy 3:9 · Ephesians 6:19

1 Corinthians 14:3 1 Corinthians 14:12 · 1 Timothy 4:13 · Jude 1:20 · 2 Timothy 4:2 · Ephesians 6:22 · Romans 14:19 · Titus 1:9 · 1 Corinthians 14:26 · 1 Thessalonians 5:11–14 · 1 Corinthians 14:31 · Titus 2:6 · 1 Corinthians 14:4–5

1 Corinthians 14:4 1 Corinthians 14:22 · 1 Corinthians 14:26 · Mark 16:17 · 1 Corinthians 14:17–19 · 1 Corinthians 14:3

1 Corinthians 14:5 1 Corinthians 12:10 · 1 Corinthians 12:28–30 · 1 Corinthians 13:1 · Mark 16:17 · Numbers 11:28–29 · 1 Corinthians 14:3–4

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.