1 Corinthians 14:3

1 Corinthians 14:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
• New International Version (NIV)But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:3

1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

1 Corinthians 14:3 word by word

ὁ δὲ προφητεύων ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ οἰκοδομὴν καὶ παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• he thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• prophesiethπροφητεύωprophēteuō · to prophesyG4395
• speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• unto menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• edificationοἰκοδομήoikodomē · buildingG3619
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• exhortationπαράκλησιςparaklēsis · encouragementG3874
• comfortπαραμυθίαparamuthia · comfortG3889

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:3

• 1 Corinthians 14:4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
• 1 Corinthians 10:23"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
• Acts 9:31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
• Romans 14:19So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
• Romans 15:2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
• Ephesians 4:12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
• 1 Timothy 1:4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
• Jude 1:20But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
• Luke 3:18So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.
• Acts 13:15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it."
• Acts 14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
• Acts 15:32And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
• Romans 12:8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3But he that prophesieth - The person who has the gift of teaching is much more useful to the Church than he is who has only the gift of tongues, because he speaks to the profit of men: viz. to their edification, by the Scriptures he expounds; to their exhortation, by what he teaches; and to their comfort, by his revelation. - Whitby. I must here refer to my sermon on this text, intitled, "The Christian Prophet and his Work," in which I have endeavored to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3But he that prophesieth - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. He that speaks under the influence of inspiration in the common language of his hearers. This seems to be the difference between those who spoke in foreign languages and those who prophesied. Both were under the influence of the Holy Spirit; both might speak the same truths; both might occupy an equally important and necessary place in the church; but the language of the one was intelligible to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-4The issue with speaking in tongues is that listeners cannot easily understand the message. However, the gift of prophecy is clear and helpful. It is a message from God that strengthens, encourages, and comforts those who hear it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. But--on the other hand. edification--of which the two principal species given are "exhortation" to remove sluggishness, "comfort" or consolation to remove sadness [Bengel]. Omit "to."Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:3

• Language
• Preaching
• Tongues (the Gift)

In the dictionaries

• Confusion
• Desire
• Edification
• Except
• Pipe
• Profit
• Tongues, Gift of
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Exhortation
• Holy Spirit

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings