1 Corinthians 14:5

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.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
would	Θέλω Thelō	G2309	to determine (as an active option from subjective impul… · verb — present active indicative, 1st person singular
ye	ὑμᾶς hymâs	G5209	you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
all	πάντας pantas	G3956	all · adjective — accusative plural masculine
spake	λαλεῖν lalein	G2980	to talk · verb — present active infinitive
tongues	γλώσσαις, glōssais	G1100	the tongue · noun — dative plural feminine
but	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
rather	μᾶλλον mallon	G3123	(adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather · adverb
that	ἵνα ina	G2443	compare G3588 (ὁ)) · conjunction
prophesied	προφητεύητε· prophēteuēte	G4395	to foretell events · verb — present active subjunctive, 2nd person plural
for	γάρ gár	G1063	properly
greater	μείζων meízōn	G3187	larger (literally or figuratively
that	ὁ ho	G3588	the (sometimes to be supplied · article — nominative singular masculine
prophesieth	προφητεύων prophēteuōn	G4395	to foretell events · verb — present active participle, nominative singular masculine
than	ἢ ē	G2228	disjunctive · conjunction
that	ὁ ho	G3588	the (sometimes to be supplied · article — nominative singular masculine
speaketh	λαλῶν lalōn	G2980	to talk · verb — present active participle, nominative singular masculine
tongues	γλώσσαις glōssais	G1100	the tongue · noun — dative plural feminine
except	ἐκτὸς ektos	G1622	the exterior · preposition
interpret	διερμηνεύῃ, diermēneuē	G1329	to explain thoroughly · verb — present active subjunctive, 3rd person singular
that	ἵνα ina	G2443	compare G3588 (ὁ)) · conjunction
church	ἐκκλησία ekklēsia	G1577	a calling out · noun — nominative singular feminine
receive	λάβῃ.¶ labē	G2983	while G138 (αἱρέομαι) is more violent · verb — second aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular
edifying	οἰκοδομὴν oikodomēn	G3619	architecture · noun — accusative singular feminine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another th…
1 Corinthians 12:28-30 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, he…
Numbers 11:28-29 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Corinthians 14:3-4 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

The apostle, in the foregoing chapter, had himself preferred, and advised the Corinthians to prefer, Christian charity to all spiritual gifts. Here he teaches them, among spiritual gifts, which they should prefer, and by what rules they should make comparison. He begins the chapter, I. With an exhortation to charity (Co1 14:1): Follow after charity, pursue it. The original, diōkete, when spoken of a thing, signifies a singular concern to obtain it; and is commonly taken in a good and laudable sense. It is an exhortation to obtain charity, to get this excellent disposition of mind upon any terms, whatever pains or prayers it may cost: as if he had said, "In whatever you fail, see you do not…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 14:5

Translate, "Now I wish you all to speak with tongues (so far am I from thus speaking through having any objection to tongues), but rather IN ORDER THAT (as my ulterior and higher wish for you) ye should prophesy." Tongues must therefore mean languages, not ecstatic, unintelligible rhapsodie (as NEANDER fancied): for Paul could never "wish" for the latter in their behalf. greater--because more useful. except he interpret--the unknown tongue which he speaks, "that the Church may receive edifying (building up)."

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:5

I would that ye all spake with tongues - The word θελω does not so much imply a wish or desire, as a command or permission. As if he had said: I do not restrain you to prophesying or teaching though I prefer that; but I give you full permission to speak in Hebrew whenever it is proper, and when one is present who can interpret for the edification of the Church, provided yourselves have not that gift, though you understand the language. The apostle said tongue, in the singular number, Co1 14:2, Co1 14:4, because he spoke of a single man; now he says tongues, in the plural number, because he speaks of many speaking; but he has the same meaning in both places. - Lightfoot. Greater is he that pr…

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The Church Fathers

Paul could not forbid speaking in tongues, because this is a gift of the Holy Spirit, but the pursuit of prophecy is more acceptable because it is more useful.
— Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES

Next, lest they should suppose that in envy to them he depresses the tongues, (for the more part had this gift,) to correct their suspicion he saith, "I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the Church may receive edifying." But "rather" and "greater," do not mark opposition, but superiority. So that hence also it is evident that he is not disparaging the gift, but leading them to better things, displaying both his carefulness on their behalf, and a spirit free from all envy. For neither did he say, "I would that two or three," but, "that ye all spake with tongues" and not this only, but also, "that ye prophesied;" and this rather than that; "for greater is he that prophesieth." For since he hath established and proved it, he next proceeds also to assert it; not however simply, but with a qualification. Accordingly he adds, "except he interpret;" since if he be able to do this, I mean the interpreting, "he hath become equal unto the prophet," so he speaks, "because then there are many who reap the advantage of it;" a thing to be especially observed, how this throughout, before all else, is his object.
— John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 35

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Edification · Is the object of: Ministerial gifts — Is the object of: Ministerial gifts
Interpreter · In congregations — In congregations
Language · unless there was an inspired interpreter present — unless there was an inspired interpreter present
Preaching · UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO — UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO
Tongues (The Gift) · The miraculous gift granted to — The miraculous gift granted to

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

1 Corinthians 14:5

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 14:5

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:5

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

1 Corinthians 14:5

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 14:5

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:5

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on 1 Corinthians 14:5

John Calvin on 1 Corinthians 14:1-6

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Corinthians 14:4