1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 14:4–5

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.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

Word by word

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 14:4

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
speaks	λαλῶν	lalōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2980 I speak, say
in a tongue	γλώσσῃ	glōssē	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G1100 the tongue, a language, nation
edifies	οἰκοδομεῖ	oikodomei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3618 I build, build up, edify
himself	ἑαυτὸν	heauton	Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G1438 himself, herself, itself
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
the	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
prophesies	προφητεύων	prophēteuōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G4395 I foretell, prophesy
edifies	οἰκοδομεῖ	oikodomei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3618 I build, build up, edify
church	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklēsian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1577 an assembly, congregation, church

1 Corinthians 14:5

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I wish that	Θέλω	Thelō	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular	G2309 I will, wish, desire
all	πάντας	pantas	Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
of you	ὑμᾶς	hymas	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
could speak	λαλεῖν	lalein	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G2980 I speak, say
in tongues	γλώσσαις	glōssais	Noun - Dative Feminine Plural	G1100 the tongue, a language, nation
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
rather	μᾶλλον	mallon	Adverb	G3123 more, rather
have	ἵνα	hina	Conjunction	G2443 in order that, so that
you prophesy	προφητεύητε	prophēteuēte	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural	G4395 I foretell, prophesy
He who	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
prophesies	προφητεύων	prophēteuōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G4395 I foretell, prophesy
greater	μείζων	meizōn	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative	G3173 large, great
than	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
speaks	λαλῶν	lalōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2980 I speak, say
in tongues	γλώσσαις	glōssais	Noun - Dative Feminine Plural	G1100 the tongue, a language, nation
unless	ἐκτὸς	ektos	Adverb	G1622 without, outside, except, the outside, apart from
he interprets	διερμηνεύῃ	diermēneuē	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1329 I translate, interpret, explain
so that	ἵνα	hina	Conjunction	G2443 in order that, so that
the	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
church	ἐκκλησία	ekklēsia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1577 an assembly, congregation, church
may be	λάβῃ	labē	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2983 I receive, take
edified	οἰκοδομὴν	oikodomēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3619 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 14:4 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.