1 Corinthians 14:31
in 1 Corinthians 14For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;
KJV
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThe reason for this is that according to this method you can successively prophesy one after the other, so that all, i.e., the greater, may learn and all, i.e., the lesser, may be encouraged. "The wise man may also hear and increase in learning" (Pr …
This site's exposition
Two or three prophets should speak
on 1 Corinthians 14:29-31
Prophecy has the same limit and a further check: the others weigh what is said, the testing of spirits from 12:10 put into practice. A prophet interrupted by a fresh revelation stops, ranking order above the urgency of a new word.
This site's exposition
you can all prophesy in turn
Hodge limits all here to those who had the gift of prophecy, each taking a turn. The purpose clause widens the benefit to the whole church. Everyone present learns, and everyone is strengthened.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 262 · Written before 458.
proposed
This rule is still applied in the church today, in that preachers take turns to teach the people.
Clearly the prophet builds up the church when through the function of his foretelling he makes wholly clear matters exceedingly vital which were unknown. Those who have been granted the ability to understand well and to interpret the divine Scriptures are obviously not excluded from …
"But if a revelation he made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." What may this be which is spoken? "If when thou prophesiest," saith he, "and art speaking, the spirit of another stir him up, be silent thenceforth." For that which he said in the case of the tongues, this also here he requires, that it should be done "in turn," only in a diviner way here. For he made not use of the very expression, "in turn?" but "if a revelation be made to another." Since what need was there further, that when the second was moved to prophesy the first should speak? Ought they then both? Nay, this were profane and would produce confusion. Ought the first? This too were out of place. For to this end when the one was speaking, the Spirit moved the other, in order that he too might say somewhat. So then, comforting him that had been silenced, he saith, "For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." Seest thou how again he states the reason wherefore he doeth all things? For if him that speaks with tongues he altogether forbid to speak, when he hath not an interpreter, because of the unprofitableness; reasonably also he bids restrain prophecy, if it have not this quality, but createth confusion and disturbance and unseasonable tumult.
It is a tradition of the synagogue which Paul is asking us to follow, whereby the people dispute while seated in chairs, on benches or on the floor, according to their rank. If a revelation has been given to someone sitting on the floor, he …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Here he teaches good order and humility of mind. When, he says, the Spirit stirs up another, you, the first one, be silent. For if it had pleased the Spirit for you to speak, then "you can all prophesy one by one," that is, do …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
For ye may all prophesy one by one,.... Not every member of the church, but everyone that had the gift of prophecy; so that they were not confined to two or three prophets at a meeting, but as many as would, or as had anything to deliver, and as time would allow; only care must be taken that confusion be avoided, and order preserved by exercising in turns one after another.
): That all might prophesy, one by one, or one after another, which could not be where any one was interrupted and silenced before he had done prophesying; but might easily be if he who was afterwards inspired forbore to deliver his new revelation till the former prophet had finished what he had to say.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
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
For ye may all prophesy one by one - The gifts which God grants are given for the purpose of edification; but there can be no edification where there is confusion; therefore let them speak one by one.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For ye may all prophecy ... - There is time enough for all; there is no need of speaking in confusion and disorder. Every person may have an opportunity of expressing his sentiments at the proper time. That all may learn - In such a manner that there may be edification. This might be done if they would speak one at a time in their proper order.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| δύνασθε | dunasthe | You are able | G1410 → | 207 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| καθ᾽ | kath᾽ | [one] by | G2596 → | 468 times |
| ἕνα | hena | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| πάντες | pantes | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| προφητεύειν, | propheteuein | to prophesy, | G4395 → | 28 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| πάντες | pantes | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| μανθάνωσιν | manthanosin | may learn | G3129 → | 25 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πάντες | pantes | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| παρακαλῶνται· | parakalontai | may be exhorted; | G3870 → | 108 times |
δύνασθεYou are able
dunastheG1410 →207 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
καθ᾽[one] by
kath᾽G2596 →468 times
ἕναone
henaG1520 →343 times
πάντεςall
pantesG3956 →1235 times
προφητεύειν,to prophesy,
propheteueinG4395 →28 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
πάντεςall
pantesG3956 →1235 times
μανθάνωσινmay learn
manthanosinG3129 →25 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πάντεςall
pantesG3956 →1235 times
παρακαλῶνται·may be exhorted;
parakalontaiG3870 →108 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.
- Romans 15:2
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
- 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
1 Thessalonians 5:14And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 14:1
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.
- Acts 20:35
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 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; Cassiodorus, EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS, PREFACE 1; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; 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; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 262; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.