1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 14:4–6

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.

⁶Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

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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 14:4

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

1 Corinthians 14:6

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now	Νῦν	Nyn	Adverb	G3568 now, already, at present
brothers	ἀδελφοί	adelphoi	Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural	G80 a brother
if	ἐὰν	ean	Conjunction	G1437 if
I come	ἔλθω	elthō	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G2064 I come, go
to	πρὸς	pros	Preposition	G4314 to, towards, with
you	ὑμᾶς	hymas	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
speaking	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
how	τί	ti	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G5101 who, which, what
will I benefit	ὠφελήσω	ōphelēsō	Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular	G5623 I help, benefit, do good
you	ὑμᾶς	hymas	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
unless	ἐὰν	ean	Conjunction	G1437 if
I	λαλήσω	lalēsō	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G2980 I speak, say
you	ὑμῖν	hymin	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
revelation	ἀποκαλύψει	apokalypsei	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G602 an unveiling, uncovering, revealing
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
knowledge	γνώσει	gnōsei	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G1108 knowledge, doctrine, wisdom
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
prophecy	προφητείᾳ	prophēteia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G4394 prophecy
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
teaching	διδαχῇ	didachē	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G1322 teaching, doctrine

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

1 Corinthians 14:6 Ephesians 1:17 · Romans 6:17 · 2 Timothy 3:16 · Hebrews 13:9 · 2 John 1:9 · 1 Corinthians 14:26–30 · 1 Corinthians 14:1 · 2 Peter 3:18

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.