1 Corinthians 14:4
in 1 Corinthians 14The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
KJV
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
12 notes on this verseMany who spoke in tongues could not explain what they themselves were saying. Therefore they were useful only to themselves. But the one who prophesies is useful to all listeners. Therefore, as great as the distance between benefit to one person and benefit to the …
This site's exposition
he who speaks in a tongue
on 1 Corinthians 14:2-4
The first contrast is address: the tongue-speaker speaks to God and utters mysteries no hearer understands. The prophet speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort, so only his gift reaches beyond the speaker to the church.
This site's exposition
The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself
Commentators divide over how the speaker is built up. Hodge holds that the speaker understood his own words, and Godet ties the benefit to the spirit's communion with God apart from the mind.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
What then? Did they edify no man? "Yes," saith he, "themselves alone:" wherefore also he adds, "He that speaketh in tongue edifieth himself." And how, if he know not what he saith? Why, for the present, he is speaking of them who understand what they say; understand it themselves, but know not how to render it unto others. "But he that prophesieth edifieth the Church." Now as great as is the difference between a single person and the Church, so great is the interval between these two. Seest thou his wisdom, how he doth not thrust out the gift and make nothing of it, but signifies it to have some advantage, small though it be, and such as to suffice the possessor only?
Paul is saying that prophets are interpreters of the Scriptures.
The Medieval Church1 voice
The second reason is this: that which is useful only to the doer is less than that which also profits others. But to speak in tongues is useful only to the speaker, whereas to prophesy benefits others. He presents the middle term of this reasoning: …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He may understand and be affected with what he speaks; and so every minister should; and he that is most edified himself is in the disposition and fitness to do good to others by what he speaks; but he that speaks with tongues, or language unknown, can only edify himself; others can reap no benefit from his speech.
He that speaketh its an unknown tongue,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Note, That is the best and most eligible gift which best answers the purposes of charity and does most good; not that which can edify ourselves only, but that which will edify the church. Such is prophesying, or preaching, and interpreting scripture, compared with speaking in an unknown tongue. Indeed, no gift is to be despised, but the best gifts are to be preferred.
He goes on to show them how unprofitable the speaking of foreign languages is, and useless to the church; it is like piping in one tone, like sounding a trumpet without any certain note, like talking gibberish; whereas gifts should be used for the good of the church,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue - In the Hebrew for instance, the knowledge of the depth and power of which he has got by a Divine revelation, edifieth himself by that knowledge. But he that prophesieth - Has the gift of preaching. Edifieth the Church - Speaketh unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort, 1Co 14:3.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Edifieth himself - That is, the truths which are communicated to him by the Spirit, and which he utters in an unknown language, may be valuable, and may be the means of strengthening his faith, and building him up in the hopes of the gospel, but they can he of no use to others. His own holy affections might be excited by the truths which he would deliver, and the consciousness of possessing miraculous powers might excite his gratitude. And yet, as Doddridge has well remarked, there might be danger that a man might be injured by this gift when exercised in this ostentatious manner.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | The [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαλῶν | lalon | speaking | G2980 → | 294 times |
| γλώσσῃ | glosse | in a tongue | G1100 → | 49 times |
| ἑαυτὸν | he'auton | himself | G1438 → | 322 times |
| οἰκοδομεῖ, | oikodomei | edifies, | G3618 → | 40 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| προφητεύων | propheteuon | prophesying | G4395 → | 28 times |
| ἐκκλησίαν | ekklesian | [the] church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| οἰκοδομεῖ.¶ | oikodomei | edifies. | G3618 → | 40 times |
ὁThe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
λαλῶνspeaking
lalonG2980 →294 times
γλώσσῃin a tongue
glosseG1100 →49 times
ἑαυτὸνhimself
he'autonG1438 →322 times
οἰκοδομεῖ,edifies,
oikodomeiG3618 →40 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
προφητεύωνprophesying
propheteuonG4395 →28 times
ἐκκλησίαν[the] church
ekklesianG1577 →113 times
οἰκοδομεῖ.¶edifies.
oikodomeiG3618 →40 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
Mark 16:17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
it leads to
- Acts 5:16
Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Luke 10:17
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- Acts 8:7
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
- John 14:12
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
- Acts 5:16
Through
1 Corinthians 14:26What 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…
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- Romans 14:19
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
- 1 Corinthians 12:7–10
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
- Ephesians 5:19
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; 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; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 35; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.