1 Corinthians 14:19
New International Version
But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others 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.

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.

Berean Standard Bible
But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Berean Literal Bible
But in the church, I desire to speak five words with my mind, that also I might instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

King James Bible
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.

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 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.

NASB 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.

NASB 1977
however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind, 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.

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].

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 a tongue.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another 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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, than 10,000 words in languages.

Contemporary English Version
But words that make sense can help the church. This is why in church I would rather speak five words that make sense than to speak 10,000 words in a language that others don't know.

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.

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Yet, in order to teach others in church, I would rather say five words that can be understood than ten thousand words in another language.

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.

International Standard Version
But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.

Literal Standard Version
but I wish to speak five words in an assembly through my understanding, that I also may instruct others, rather than myriads of words in an [unknown] tongue.

Majority Standard Bible
But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

New American Bible
but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, so as to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

NET Bible
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 Revised Standard Version
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.

New Heart English Bible
However in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

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.

Weymouth 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.

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.

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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Prophecy and Tongues
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.…

Cross References
Luke 1:4
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

1 Corinthians 14:18
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

1 Corinthians 14:20
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

in the.

1 Corinthians 14:4,21,22
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church…

Jump to Previous
Assembly Better Church Clear Desire Five Howbeit However Instruct Intelligible Language Mind Myriads Nevertheless Order Others Profit Rather Sense Speak Strange Teach Ten Thousand Tongue Understanding Unknown Use Voice Wish Words
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Assembly Better Church Clear Desire Five Howbeit However Instruct Intelligible Language Mind Myriads Nevertheless Order Others Profit Rather Sense Speak Strange Teach Ten Thousand Tongue Understanding Unknown Use Voice Wish Words
1 Corinthians 14
1. Prophecy is commended,
2. and preferred before speaking in tongues,
6. by a comparison drawn from musical instruments.
12. Both must be referred to edification,
22. as to their true and proper end.
26. The true use of each is taught,
27. and the abuse rebuked.
34. Women in the churches.














Verse 19. - Yet in the Church. In any public assembly of Christians. Five words. No disparagement of the prominence given to glossolaly could be more emphatic. "Rather half of ten of the edifying sort than a thousand times ten of the other" (Besser). That... I might [may] teach others also. The word rendered "teach" is rather instruct, the root of our "catechize" (Luke 1:4; Romans 2:8; Galatians 6:6, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] church,
ἐκκλησίᾳ (ekklēsia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1577: From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.

I would rather
θέλω (thelō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

speak
λαλῆσαι (lalēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

five
πέντε (pente)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4002: Five. A primary number; 'five'.

coherent
νοΐ (noi)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3563: Probably from the base of ginosko; the intellect, i.e. Mind; by implication, meaning.

words
λόγους (logous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

instruct
κατηχήσω (katēchēsō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2727: To instruct orally, teach, inform. From kata and echos; to sound down into the ears, i.e. to indoctrinate or to apprise of.

others
ἄλλους (allous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. Different.

than
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

ten thousand
μυρίους (myrious)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3463: Plural of an apparently primary word; ten thousand; by extension, innumerably many.

words
λόγους (logous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

a tongue.
γλώσσῃ (glōssē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1100: The tongue; by implication, a language.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 14:19 However in the assembly I would rather (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 14:18
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