He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
- KJV He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
- BSB The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
- NASB The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
- NLT A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Speaking in a tongue edifies oneself, but prophecy edifies the church. Public worship should aim at the good of all.
Overview
Paul grants that tongues can build up the individual speaker, but prophecy builds up the whole assembly. In a gathering whose purpose is mutual edification, the gift that benefits others is to be preferred. This reflects the principle of love seeking not its own but the common good of the body.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Cor 14:22Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
- 1 Cor 14:26What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
- Mark 16:17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
- 1 Cor 14:17–19For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
- 1 Cor 14:3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
- 1 Cor 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
- 1 Cor 14:5Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather 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.
- 1 Cor 14:12So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
- Rom 14:19So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 14:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.