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Friday, July 4th, 2025
the Week of Proper 8 / Ordinary 13
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

1 Corinthians 14:19

But in a meeting of the church, it is better if I say five words that others can understand and be helped by than 10,000 words in special sounds.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Interpretation;   Language;   Preaching;   Tongues (the Gift);   Words;   The Topic Concordance - Prophecy and Prophets;   Tongues;   Understanding;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Child;   Number;   Tongues;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Mind/reason;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Worship of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Tongues, Gift of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Edification;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Ethics;   Spiritual Gifts;   Tongues, Gift of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Baptism;   Church;   Edification;   Mind;   Numbers;   Tongues Gift of;   Voice;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Edification;   Numbers as Symbols;   Tongues, Gift of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Five;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Synagogue;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Catechist;   Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Tongues, Gift of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in another tongue.
King James Version (1611)
Yet in the Church I had rather speake fiue words with my vnderstanding, that by my voyce I might teach others also, then ten thousand words in an vnknowen tongue.
King James Version
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
English Standard Version
Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
New American Standard Bible
nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
New Century Version
But in the church meetings I would rather speak five words I understand in order to teach others than thousands of words in a different language.
Amplified Bible
nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say five understandable words in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Legacy Standard Bible
however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Berean Standard Bible
But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Contemporary English Version
But words that make sense can help the church. That's why in church I had rather speak five words that make sense than to speak ten thousand words in a language that others don't know.
Complete Jewish Bible
but in a congregation meeting I would rather say five words with my mind in order to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue!
Darby Translation
but in [the] assembly I desire to speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, [rather] than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Easy-to-Read Version
But in the church meetings I would rather speak five words that I understand than thousands of words in a different language. I would rather speak with my understanding, so that I can teach others.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Yet had I rather in the Church to speake fiue wordes with mine vnderstanding, that I might also instruct others, then ten thousande wordes in a strange tongue.
George Lamsa Translation
But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, so that I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Good News Translation
But in church worship I would rather speak five words that can be understood, in order to teach others, than speak thousands of words in strange tongues.
Lexham English Bible
but in the church I prefer to speak five words with my mind, in order that I may instruct other people, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Literal Translation
But in an assembly I desire to speak five words with my mind, that I may also instruct others, than myriads of words in a foreign language.
American Standard Version
howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Bible in Basic English
But in the church it would be better for me to make use of five words of which the sense was clear, so that others might have profit, than ten thousand words in a strange tongue.
Hebrew Names Version
However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
International Standard Version
But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a tongue.
Etheridge Translation
but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, that others also may learn, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Murdock Translation
But in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others, than a myriad of words in a tongue.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yet had I rather, in the Churche to speake fiue wordes with my vnderstandyng, to the information of other, then ten thousande wordes with the tongue.
English Revised Version
howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
World English Bible
However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Yet in the congregation I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Weymouth's New Testament
but in the Church I would rather speak five words with my understanding--so as to instruct others also--than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but in the chirche Y wole speke fyue wordis in my wit, that also Y teche othere men, than ten thousynde of wordis in tunge.
Update Bible Version
nevertheless in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Webster's Bible Translation
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] language.
New English Translation
but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
New King James Version
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
New Living Translation
But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
New Revised Standard
nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, in assembly, I desire to speak five words with my mind, that, others also, I may instruct, than myriads of words in a tongue.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also: than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Revised Standard Version
nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Yet had I lever in ye cogregacio to speake five wordes with my mynde to ye informacio of other rather then ten thousande wordes wt the tonge.
Young's Literal Translation
but in an assembly I wish to speak five words through my understanding, that others also I may instruct, rather than myriads of words in an [unknown] tongue.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yet had I leuer in the cogregacion to speake fyue wordes with my vnderstondinge yt I maye enfourme other also, rather then ten thousande wordes with tunges.
Mace New Testament (1729)
yet in the church I had rather speak five words that convey my meaning to the instruction of others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But when I'm with others, I'd rather say five things everyone can understand rather than a thousand words they can't. I can't teach if they can't understand.

Contextual Overview

15 What should I do? I will pray with my spirit and I will pray with my mind also. I will sing with my spirit and I will sing with my mind also. 16 If you honor and give thanks to God with your spirit in sounds nobody understands, how can others honor and give thanks also if they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are honoring and giving thanks to God, but it is not helping other people. 18 I thank God that I speak in special sounds more than all of you. 19 But in a meeting of the church, it is better if I say five words that others can understand and be helped by than 10,000 words in special sounds. 20 Christian brothers, do not be like children in your thinking. Be full-grown, but be like children in not knowing how to sin.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in the: 1 Corinthians 14:4, 1 Corinthians 14:21, 1 Corinthians 14:22

Reciprocal: Esther 1:22 - according Habakkuk 2:2 - make Acts 8:30 - Understandest 1 Corinthians 12:7 - General 1 Corinthians 14:9 - easy 1 Corinthians 14:14 - my spirit 1 Corinthians 14:15 - I will pray with the spirit 1 Corinthians 14:31 - all may learn 2 Corinthians 3:12 - we use Ephesians 4:29 - that which Colossians 4:5 - Walk Hebrews 5:12 - teachers

Cross-References

Genesis 14:6
and the Horites in their Mount Seir as far as El-paran near the desert.
Genesis 14:7
Then they turned around and came to Enmishpat (that is, Kadesh). There they won a war against all the country of the Amalekites and the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
Genesis 14:9
They fought against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five.
Genesis 14:16
Then Abram returned with all the things they had taken. He also returned with his brother's son Lot and all that belonged to him, and the women and the people.
Genesis 14:22
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have promised the Lord God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth,
Genesis 14:23
that I will not take a piece of string or piece of leather or anything that is yours. Or else you might say, ‘I have made Abram rich.'
Genesis 27:4
Get some food ready for me that I love. Bring it to me to eat, so that before I die I will pray that good will come to you."
Genesis 47:7
Then Joseph brought his father Jacob to Pharaoh. Jacob prayed that good would come to Pharaoh.
Genesis 47:10
Then Jacob prayed that good would come to Pharaoh, and went away from him.
Genesis 49:28
All these are the twelve family groups of Israel. This is what their father said to them when he prayed that good would come to them. He prayed for each of them to receive the good they should have.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Yet in the church I had rather speak five words,.... Referring not to the five books of Moses, as Jerom suggests, and much less, as the Papists say, to the five words, "for this is my body"; by the muttering of which they suppose the bread in the Lord's supper to be transubtantiated into the body of Christ; but meaning a very few words, which he chose to speak in the church before the congregation, when and where saints were met together for public worship, for their edification and comfort, and the glory of God; for though at other times, and to other people, he might think fit to make use of his gift in speaking with divers tongues, yet at such a time and place he thought it much more eligible to say ever so few words

with understanding: so as to be understood by others, as well as himself:

that by my voice I might teach others also; the doctrines of the Gospel, the mysteries of grace, the duty of men towards God and men, and one another:

than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue; than to deliver ever so long an oration in a language not understood by them, which could be of no use unto them; for though they might hear his voice, the sound of his words, yet thereby he could not teach and instruct them to their profit, unless they understood the language which he spoke; and therefore five words understood were more likely to be of use than ten thousand spoken in a strange language.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Yet in the church - In the Christian assembly. The word “church” does not refer to the “edifice” where Christians worshipped, but to the organized body of Christians.

I had rather ... - It is probable that in the Christian assembly, usually, there were few who understood foreign languages. Paul, therefore, would not speak in a foreign language when its only use would be mere display.

With my understanding - So as to be intelligible to others; so that I might understand it, and so that at the same time others might be benefitted.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Yet in the church — As the grand object of public worship is the edification of those who attend, five words spoken so as to convey edification, were of much more consequence than ten thousand which, not being understood, could convey none. By the word γλωσση, tongue, to which we add unknown, I suppose the apostle always means the Hebrew, for the reasons offered in Clarke's note on "1 Corinthians 14:1".

One of the greatest difficulties, says Bishop Pearce, in this epistle is contained in the words πνευμα and νους, spirit and understanding, which are frequently used in this chapter; and fixing the true meaning of these words will solve the difficulty. In this verse the apostle explains λαλειν τῳ νοΐ, to speak with the understanding, by ινα αλλους κατηχησω, that I might teach others; so that the sense of νους, understanding, seems to be, that understanding which the hearer has of what is said; and this sense will agree well with, I will sing with the spirit, and with the understanding, 1 Corinthians 14:15.

He observes also that πνευμα spirit, and νους, understanding, have a sense opposite to each other; so that if νους is rightly rendered, the understanding which another has of what is said; then πνευμα will signify a man's own mind, i.e. his own understanding of what he himself speaks; and this sense agrees well with 1 Corinthians 14:2: In the spirit he speaketh mysteries.


 
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