1 Corinthians 14:26
in 1 Corinthians 14What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
KJV
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
13 notes on this verseHow is it - every one of you hath a psalm, etc. - Dr. Lightfoot understands this in the following manner: When the congregation came together, some were for spending the time in psalmody; others in explaining particular doctrines; others in reading, praying, or speaking in the Hebrew tongue; others were curious to hear of farther revelations; and others wished to spend the time in the interpretation of what had already been spoken. This may be specious, but to me it is not satisfactory.
This site's exposition
What then shall we say, brothers
Each worshiper brings a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation, gifts competing for the floor. The closing rule, that all must build up the church, governs the rest of the chapter as one test for every gift.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Particular effort should be made to ensure that unlearned people will benefit. Nothing should be done to hide things from them because of their lack of learning.
"What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." Seest thou the foundation and the rule of Christianity? how, as it is the artificer's work to build, so it is the Christian's to profit his neighbors in all things. But since he had vehemently run down the gift; lest it might seem to be superfluous, for with a view to pull down their pride and no more, he did this:-again he reckons it with the other gifts, saying, "hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a tongue." For of old they used also to make psalms by a gift and to teach by a gift. Nevertheless, "let all these look to one thing," saith he, "the correction of their neighbor: let nothing be done at random. For if thou comest not to edify thy brother, why dost thou come here at all? In fact, I do not make much account of the difference of the gifts. One thing concerns me, one thing is my desire, to do all things "unto edifying." Thus also he that hath the lesser gift will outrun him that hath the greater, if this be not wanting. Yea, therefore are the gifts bestowed, that each might be edified; since unless this take place, the gift will rather turn to the condemnation of the receiver. For what, tell me, is the use of prophesying? What is the use of raising the dead, when there is none who profits by it? But if this be the end of the gifts, and if it be possible to effect it in another way without gifts, boast not thyself on the score of the signs, nor do thou bewail thyself to whom the gifts are denied.
Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his god, some prophets, such as have not spoken by human sense, but with the Spirit of God, such as have both predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart; let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer -only let it be by the Spirit, in an ecstasy, that is, in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him; let him show to me also, that any woman of boastful tongue in his community has ever prophesied from amongst those specially holy sisters of his.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Here he tells them how to use these gifts. In regard to this he does two things: first, he shows how they should act in regard to the use of these gifts; secondly, he concludes to his main proposition (v. 39). In regard to the …
In antiquity, psalms too were composed by gift, and for teaching a gift was bestowed. By "revelation" he means prophecy, giving the genus the name of the species. He mentions the gift of tongues as well, lest they consider this gift entirely contemptible and not …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Everyone hath a psalm - That is, at the same time one begins to sing a psalm; another to deliver a doctrine; another to speak in an unknown tongue; another to declare what has been revealed to him; another to interpret what the former is speaking; every one probably gathering a little company about him, just as they did in the schools of the philosophers.
Is not this perfect uproar? And yet all religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view, Let all things be done to edifying. " II. He corrects their faults, and lays down some regulations for their future conduct.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
How is it then, brethren?.... Or "what is it brethren?" The Arabic renders it, "what is the sense of my words?"
He forbids women speaking in the church; and closes this subject by requiring them to perform every thing in the public worship with order and decency,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
How is it then?--rather, "What then is the true rule to be observed as to the use of gifts?" Compare 1Co 14:15, where the same Greek occurs. a psalm--extemporary, inspired by the Spirit, as that of Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna (Lu 1:46-55, 67-79;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
How is it then, brethren? - See the note at 1Co 14:15. What is the fact? What actually occurs among you? Does that state of things exist which I have described? Is there that order in your public worship which is demanded and proper? It is implied in his asking this question that there might be some things among them which were improper, and which deserved reproof. When ye come together - For worship. Everyone of you ... - That is, all the things which are specified would be found among them. It is, evidently, not meant that all these things would be found in the same person, but would all exist at the same time; and thus confusion and disorder would be inevitable. Instead of waiting for an intimation from the presiding officer in the assembly, or speaking in succession and in order, each one probably regarded himself as under the influence of the Holy Spirit; as having an important message to communicate, or as being called on to celebrate the praises of God; and thus confusion and disorder would prevail. Many would be speaking at the same time, and a most unfavorable impression would be made on the minds of the strangers who should be present, 1Co 14:23. This implied reproof of the Corinthians is certainly a reproof of those public assemblies where many speak at the same time; or where a portion are engaged in praying, and others in exhortation. Nor can it be urged that in such cases those who engage in these exercises are under the influence of the Holy Spirit; for, however true that may be, yet it is no more true than it was in Corinth, and yet the apostle reproved the practice there. […]
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τί | ti | What | G5101 → | 563 times |
| οὖν | oun | then | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ἐστιν, | estin | is it, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἀδελφοί; | adelphoi | brothers? | G80 → | 343 times |
| ὅταν | hotan | When | G3752 → | 123 times |
| συνέρχησθε, | sunerchesthe | you may come together, | G4905 → | 30 times |
| ἕκαστος | hekastos | each | G1538 → | 81 times |
| ψαλμὸν | psalmon | a psalm | G5568 → | |
| ἔχει, | echei | has, | G2192 → | 707 times |
| διδαχὴν | didachen | a teaching | G1322 → | |
| ἔχει, | echei | has, | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἀποκάλυψιν | apokalupsin | a revelation | G602 → | 17 times |
| ἔχει, | echei | has, | G2192 → | 707 times |
| γλῶσσαν | glossan | a tongue | G1100 → | 49 times |
| ἔχει, | echei | has, | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἑρμηνείαν | hermeneian | an interpretation | G2058 → | |
| ἔχει· | echei | has; | G2192 → | 707 times |
| πάντα | panta | All things | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| πρὸς | pros | for | G4314 → | 700 times |
| οἰκοδομὴν | oikodomen | edification | G3619 → | 18 times |
| γινέσθω. | ginestho | should be. | G1096 → | 667 times |
ΤίWhat
tiG5101 →563 times
οὖνthen
ounG3767 →497 times
ἐστιν,is it,
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἀδελφοί;brothers?
adelphoiG80 →343 times
ὅτανWhen
hotanG3752 →123 times
συνέρχησθε,you may come together,
sunerchestheG4905 →30 times
ἕκαστοςeach
hekastosG1538 →81 times
ψαλμὸνa psalm
psalmonG5568 →
ἔχει,has,
echeiG2192 →707 times
διδαχὴνa teaching
didachenG1322 →
ἔχει,has,
echeiG2192 →707 times
ἀποκάλυψινa revelation
apokalupsinG602 →17 times
ἔχει,has,
echeiG2192 →707 times
γλῶσσανa tongue
glossanG1100 →49 times
ἔχει,has,
echeiG2192 →707 times
ἑρμηνείανan interpretation
hermeneianG2058 →
ἔχει·has;
echeiG2192 →707 times
πάνταAll things
pantaG3956 →1235 times
πρὸςfor
prosG4314 →700 times
οἰκοδομὴνedification
oikodomenG3619 →18 times
γινέσθω.should be.
ginesthoG1096 →667 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 15:2
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 10:25
Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
- Ephesians 4:29
Through
Ephesians 5:19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
it leads to
- Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
- Colossians 3:16
Through
Ephesians 4:16From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
it leads to
- Colossians 2:19
He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
- John 15:5
I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
- Colossians 2:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 36; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.