1 Corinthians 14:29
in 1 Corinthians 14Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.
KJV
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Let the prophets - See the note at 1Co 14:1. Speak two or three - On the same days, or at the same meeting; see the note at 1Co 14:27. And let the other judge - The word “other” (οἱ ἄλλοι hoi alloi, “the others”), Bloomfield supposes refers to the other prophets; and that the meaning is, that they should decide whether what was said was dictated by the Holy Spirit, or not.
This site's exposition
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge
on 1 Corinthians 14:29-31
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge: the same limit and the same order govern prophecy, with a further check tongues did not carry, the other prophets weighing what has been said, the discerning of spirits from 12:10 put into practice as a standing procedure. Verse 30 adds a courtesy rule for a prophet interrupted by a fresh revelation, let the first hold his peace, ranking order above even the urgency of a new word. Verse 31 states the purpose behind every rule so far, ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted, the goal never fewer gifts operating but every gift reaching its hearers in turn.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Paul allowed others to ask questions about ambiguous matters, so that they might be elucidated by clearer discussion.
Neither must we prescribe this from custom, but overcome opposite custom by reason. For neither did Peter, whom first the Lord chose, and upon whom He built His Church, when Paul disputed with him afterwards about circumcision, claim anything to himself insolently, nor arrogantly assume anything; so as to say that he held the primacy, and that he ought rather to be obeyed by novices and those lately come.
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauVictorinus Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
"Seven thunders uttered their voices." The seven thunders uttering their voices signify, the Holy Spirit of sevenfold power, who through the prophets announced all things to come, and by His voice John gave his testimony in the world; but because he says that he was about to write the things which the thunders had uttered, that is, whatever things had been obscure in the announcements of the Old Testament; he is forbidden to write them, but he was charged to leave them sealed, because he is an apostle, nor was it fitting that the grace of the subsequent stage should be given in the first. "The time," says he, "is at hand." For the apostles, by powers, by signs, by portents, and by mighty works, have overcome unbelief. After them there is now given to the same completed Churches the comfort of having the prophetic Scriptures subsequently interpreted, for I said that after the apostles there would be interpreting prophets. For the apostle says: "And he placed in the Church indeed, first, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers," and the rest. And in another place he says: "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge." And he says: "Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoureth her head" And when he says, "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge," he is not speaking in respect of the Catholic prophecy of things unheard and unknown, but of things both announced and known. But let them judge whether or not the interpretation is consistent with the testimonies of the prophetic utterance. It is plain, therefore, that to John, armed as he was with superior virtue, this was not necessary, although the body of Christ, which is the Church, adorned with His members, ought to respond to its position.
But permit the prophets to make Thanksgiving as much as they desire.
"Let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern." No where hath he added, "at the most," as in the case of the tongues. And how is this, one saith? For he makes out that neither is prophesy sufficient in itself, if at least he permitteth the judgment to others. Nay, surely it is quite sufficient; and this is why he did not stop the mouth of the prophet, as of the other, when there is no interpreter; nor, as in his case he said, "if there be no interpreter let him keep silence," so also in the case of the prophet, "if there be none to discern, let him not prophesy;" but he only secured the hearer; since for the satisfaction of the hearers he said this, that no diviner might throw himself in among them. For of this also at the beginning he bade them beware, when he introduced a distinction between divination and prophecy, and now he bids them discriminate and spy out the matter, so that no Satanic teacher might privily enter.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Here the Apostle instructs them on how to use the gift of prophecy. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he shows how the gift of prophecy is to be used both as to number and to order; secondly, to whom the …
Among the prophets, sorcerers also hid themselves. Therefore he says: let the others judge concerning them, so that a sorcerer might not secretly escape notice. For as was said above (1 Cor. 12:10), there was also the gift of "discerning of spirits" for distinguishing false …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Let the prophets speak, two or three,....
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
Paul gives here similar rules to the prophets, as previously to those speaking in unknown tongues. judge--by their power of "discerning spirits" (1Co 12:10), whether the person prophesying was really speaking under the influence of the Spirit (compare 1Co 12:3;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Let the prophets - Those who have the gift of speaking to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort; 1Co 14:3. Two or three - As prophesying implied psalmody, teaching, and exhortation, Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the meaning of the place is this: Let one sing who has a psalm; let another teach who has a doctrine; and let a third exhort, or comfort, who has a gift of that kind. And let the other judge - The other prophets, or qualified persons, judge of the propriety of what had been spoken; or let them discern, διακρινετωσαν, how the revelation under the new covenant confirmed and illustrated the revelation granted under the Old Testament. It appears to have been taken for granted, that a man might pretend to this spirit of prophecy who was not sent of God; and therefore it was the duty of the accredited teachers to examine whether what he spoke was according to truth, and the analogy of faith. For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; every man’s gift was to be judged of by those whose age, experience, and wisdom, gave them a right to decide. Besides, though the person who did speak might do it from an impulse of God, yet, if he was not sufficiently known, his testimony ought to be received with caution; and therefore the aged prophets should judge of his gift, lest false doctrines should slide into the Church. But all these provisions, as Schoettgen justly observes, were in imitation of the practice in the Jewish synagogues; for there it was customary for them to object, interrogate, judge, refute, etc.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| προφῆται | prophetai | Prophets | G4396 → | 144 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| δύο | duo | two | G1417 → | 133 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| τρεῖς | treis | three | G5140 → | 69 times |
| λαλείτωσαν, | laleitosan | should speak, | G2980 → | 294 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἄλλοι | alloi | others | G243 → | 155 times |
| διακρινέτωσαν· | diakrinetosan | should discern; | G1252 → | 19 times |
προφῆταιProphets
prophetaiG4396 →144 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
δύοtwo
duoG1417 →133 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
τρεῖςthree
treisG5140 →69 times
λαλείτωσαν,should speak,
laleitosanG2980 →294 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἄλλοιothers
alloiG243 →155 times
διακρινέτωσαν·should discern;
diakrinetosanG1252 →19 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 Corinthians 12:10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 14:39
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
- 1 Corinthians 12:28–30
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.
- Joel 2:28
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
- 1 Corinthians 14:39
Through
1 Corinthians 14:39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 12:31
But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:20
Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
- 1 Corinthians 12:31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians

This page draws on 14 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; Cyprian, Epistle LXX; Didache, The Didache, Chapter 10; 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; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians; Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Victorinus of Pettau, Victorinus Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.
