I Corinthians 14:5 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 14:5 Commentary: Why Prophecy Exceeds Tongues, Study
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Paul's ranking of prophecy over tongues in 1 Cor 14:5, the role of interpretation, and the church's edification as the measure of spiritual gifts.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul affirms tongues but ranks prophecy higher because it builds up the church; interpretation makes tongues edifying.
- Key words: Thelō (desire), glōssais (tongues/languages), prophēteuō (to prophesy), diermēneuō (interpret), oikodomēn (edification/building up).
- Main debate: The nature of tongues (known languages vs. ecstatic utterance) and whether the gift continues or ceased.
- Theological theme: Edification as the measure of spiritual gifts; love as the context for their use.
- Best use: Teaching the priority of intelligible communication in corporate worship; encouraging believers to seek gifts that build others.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
KJV King James Version 1769
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and I wish you all to speak with tongues, and more that ye may prophecy, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking with tongues, except one may interpret, that the assembly may receive edification.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Now I desire that ye should all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy. But greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interpret, that the assembly may receive edification.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Así que, quisiera que todos vosotros hablaseis lenguas, empero más que profetizaseis: porque mayor es el que profetiza que el que habla lenguas, si también no interpretare, para que la iglesia tome edificación.
E eu quero que todos vós faleis línguas, porém mais ainda que profetizeis; porque o que profetiza é maior que o que fala línguas, a não ser que também interprete, para que a igreja receba edificação.
Je désire que vous parliez tous en langues, mais encore plus que vous prophétisiez. Celui qui prophétise est plus grand que celui qui parle en langues, à moins que ce dernier n’ interprète, pour que l’ Église en reçoive de l’ édification.
Ich wollte, daß ihr alle mit Zungen reden könntet; aber viel mehr, daß ihr weissagt. Denn der da weissagt, ist größer, als der mit Zungen redet; es sei denn, daß er's auch auslege, daß die Gemeinde davon gebessert werde.
En ik wil wel, dat gij allen in vreemde talen spreekt, maar meer, dat gij profeteert; want die profeteert, is meerder dan die vreemde talen spreekt, tenzij dan, dat hij het uitlegge, opdat de Gemeente stichting moge ontvangen.
Or io ben vorrei che tutti parlaste in altre lingue; ma molto più che profetaste; chi profetizza è superiore a chi parla in altre lingue, a meno ch’egli interpreti, affinché la chiesa ne riceva edificazione.
A chciałbym, abyście wy wszyscy językami mówili, ale abyście raczej prorokowali; albowiem większy jest ten, co prorokuje, niż ten, co językami obcymi mówi, chyba żeby tłumaczył, aby zbór brał zbudowanie.
Желаю, чтобы вы все говорили языками; но лучше, чтобы вы пророчествовали; ибо пророчествующий превосходнее того, кто говорит языками, разве он притом будет и изъяснять, чтобы церковь получила назидание.
我願意 你們 都 說 方言，更 願意 你們作先知講道；因為 說 方言的，若 不 翻 出來，使 教會 被 造就，那作先知講道的，就比 他強了。
Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 14:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions share a basic agreement on this verse. Paul does not reject tongues; he wishes that all could speak in them. But prophecy is 'greater', which, as Wesley explains, means 'more useful.' Barnes states that 'greater' refers not to brilliance but to usefulness in building up the church. Gill and Calvin both stress that Paul is not diminishing the gift of tongues; he is placing it in proper order. The key condition is 'unless he interprets': when a tongue-speaker can interpret for the assembly, the gift becomes comparable to prophecy because the church receives edification (Clarke, Barnes). The measure of every spiritual gift, the commentators agree, is how it lifts up the body of Christ.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Tongues as known human languages: Lexicon defines glōssa as language/dialect; commentators like Barnes, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown see the gift as akin to Pentecost (Acts 2).
- Tongues as ecstatic utterance: Passage refers to speaking mysteries to God (v.2) and self-edification (v.4); Cambridge Bible notes parallels to Montanist and Irvingite practices, which were not human languages.
What is clear: Paul ranks prophecy above tongues because it directly builds up the church; however, when tongues are interpreted they also serve the edification of the assembly.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Paul's attitude toward tongues | Paul does not forbid tongues; he wishes all could have them. | Some, like Clarke, interpret thelō here as a permission rather than a wish, limiting Paul's enthusiasm. Others read it as a genuine desire from the apostle. |
| Nature of the gift of tongues | The gift involves speaking in a language not naturally acquired. | Many Protestant commentators (Barnes, JFB) argue for known human languages, based on Pentecost and the lexical range of glōssa. Others, citing parallels to Montanist ecstasy and the phrase 'tongues of angels' (1 Cor 13:1), see it as a non-human, ecstatic prayer language. |
| Role of the interpreter | Interpretation makes tongues beneficial for the whole church. | Whether the speaker himself must interpret (Gill, Lange) or a separate interpreter can do so (Barnes, based on 1 Cor 14:27). |
| Continuation of tongues today | The passage does not explicitly discuss cessation. | Cessationist traditions view these gifts as limited to the apostolic age; continuationist traditions see them as available for the church today, subject to the regulation Paul gives. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Corinthian church gathered in a city known for its diversity of languages and cultures. Paul writes to correct a lopsided emphasis on the gift of tongues, likely because it was flashy and impressed onlookers. In chapter 12, he insists that gifts are distributed for the common good. In chapter 13, he makes love the essential context. Now in chapter 14, he tackles the practical disorder. The 'tongues' here probably refer to known languages, as at Pentecost, though the Cambridge Bible notes that others (like the Montanists) considered them ecstatic utterances. Lightfoot, cited by Clarke, suggests the 'unknown tongue' might have been Hebrew or Aramaic, understood by few. Whatever the exact nature, Paul's concern is consistent: without interpretation, tongues do not build the assembly. The vivid illustrations of the pipe and trumpet (1 Cor 14:7, 8) reinforce this: if the sound is unclear, nobody benefits. The historical crisis is clear, the Corinthians were using a spiritual gift in a way that left others confused. Paul responds by reordering worship so that 'all things be done to edification' (1 Cor 14:26).
Textual Notes
The Greek text of 1 Corinthians 14:5 is well attested and stable. The only variant noted by Lange is between μείζων γὰρ ('for greater') and μείζων δέ ('but greater'). Both readings are grammatically possible and do not alter the essential meaning. The reading with γάρ (for) has stronger manuscript support and provides a logical connection to the preceding verses. No other textual variants are noted in the supplied sources that affect interpretation.
Reception History
In church history, this verse has been a key text for understanding the place of tongues. John Calvin used this passage to defend the study of languages for the spread of the gospel, while still insisting that prophecy must have the first place. Early Christian writers such as Chrysostom also prioritized edification. The Montanist movement of the second century, which practiced ecstatic prophecy, led the wider church to be cautious about enthusiastic speech. In modern times, Pentecostal and charismatic movements have cited the condition 'unless he interprets' as the model for public use of tongues, while cessationist traditions use the same verse to argue that tongues without interpretation are not for the assembly.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Paul's Inclusive Desire, He wishes all could speak in tongues, showing the gift is not to be disdained.
- Paul's Higher Priority, Prophecy is greater because it builds up the assembly directly, as Wesley noted: greater = more useful.
- The Equalizing Condition, When tongues are interpreted, the speaker becomes like a prophet, since the church receives edification (Clarke, Barnes).
Five-point outline
- Context: The pursuit of love and spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:1).
- The Wish: Paul's sincere desire that all speak in tongues.
- The Preference: But he wants even more that they prophesy.
- The Reason: The prophet is greater because he edifies the church.
- The Exception: Unless the tongue-speaker interprets, then he also edifies.
Illustration hooks
- A worship meeting where one person speaks in an unknown language while others look around confused, contrasted with a moment when the same message is explained clearly and the whole congregation is encouraged.
- At work, a technician uses technical jargon few understand; a manager rephrases the same information in simple terms and the team makes progress.
- The work of a Bible translator: turning God's word into a language people actually speak, so the message builds up a community.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If prophecy is greater, should we stop using tongues in our church gatherings?
- Do I need to seek the gift of interpretation if I speak in tongues privately or publicly?
- How can we apply the principle of edification to our worship when we see other gifts at work?
Leading a Discussion
This passage invites us to consider not which gift is best, but what builds up the church. Paul's love for all gifts shows in his desire that everyone speak in tongues. Yet his higher wish is for intelligible prophecy. The condition 'unless he interprets' opens a window into how gifts must serve others, not just the individual.
Discussion questions
- What does Paul wish for the Corinthians regarding tongues and prophecy? (v.5a)
- How does Paul compare the one who prophesies with the one who speaks in tongues? (v.5b)
- What condition would make the tongues-speaker equal to the prophet?
- From the surrounding verses (1 Cor 14:1, 4), what is the purpose of prophecy? What is the purpose of tongues?
- How does this passage challenge our view of which gifts are 'greater' in our own church context?
- What would it look like to prioritize the edification of the assembly in our gatherings?
- How can you personally apply the principle of greater usefulness rather than seeking impressive gifts?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 11:28 | Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, “My lord Moses, forbid them!” |
| Numbers 11:29 | Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh’s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!” |
| Mark 16:17 | These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; |
| I Corinthians 12:10 | and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages. |
| I Corinthians 12:28 | God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. |
| I Corinthians 12:30 | Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? |
| I Corinthians 13:1 | If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. |
| I Corinthians 13:4 | Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke clarifies that Paul's "I would" here is not a wish but a full permission to speak in tongues when properly interpreted. He then argues that a useful preacher who lacks scholarly learning is far greater in God's eyes than one skilled in languages who cannot interpret, noting that great scholars seldom make good preachers.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that spiritual gifts must be judged by usefulness, not by how brilliant they appear. A quiet believer who builds up the church is greater than someone with dazzling tongues but no edifying result. Even tongues require interpretation to have real value.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin defends the study of biblical languages by noting that Paul commends tongues, though prophecy ranks higher. He contrasts the apostle's approval with the "great theologians" of his own day who attack language learning. Since the Holy Spirit honored tongues, those who condemn studying them are not led by the same Spirit.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that this passage assumes a person could speak in a language without understanding their own words. It also acknowledges that some interpreters view speaking in tongues as ecstatic utterances, not any human language, citing ancient and modern parallels.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that prophecy surpasses speaking in tongues in value, unless the tongues are interpreted. Without interpretation, tongues do not build up the church. The key condition is that only when an explanation is given can tongues match prophecy's purpose of edifying the congregation.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that Paul does not despise speaking in tongues; he actually wishes all believers had that gift. But prophecy ranks higher because it builds up the church directly. Only when a tongue-speaker can also interpret does the gift become equally profitable for edification.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB argues that Paul's wish for believers to speak in tongues proves these were real languages, not ecstatic babbling. Paul could never wish for unintelligible speech. Prophecy is greater only because it builds up the church, unless the tongue speaker interprets.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that speaking in tongues was an ecstatic utterance arising from the human spirit, not a foreign language. The understanding was inactive, making the speech unintelligible without interpretation, useful only for the speaker's self-edification. Prophecy, engaging the understanding, alone edified the whole church.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry underscores that charity is the essential grace, to be obtained at any cost through earnest pursuit. He then advises that of the spiritual gifts, prophecy—interpreting Scripture—should be sought above tongues, since it edifies the church with exhortation and comfort.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley redefines "greater" to mean "more useful." He argues that usefulness is the only proper measure for evaluating any gift or talent.