God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 14:29
29Two or three people should speak what God has revealed. Everyone else should decide whether what each person said is right or wrong.
1 Corinthians 14:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
- New International Version (NIV)Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
Context of 1 Corinthians 14:29
27If people speak in other languages, only two or three at the most should speak. They should do it one at a time, and someone must interpret what each person says. 28But if an interpreter isn’t present, those people should remain silent in church. They should only speak to themselves and to God. Two or three people should speak what God has revealed. Everyone else should decide whether what each person said is right or wrong. 30If God reveals something to another person who is seated, the first speaker should be silent. 31All of you can take your turns speaking what God has revealed. In that way, everyone will learn and be encouraged.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 141 Corinthians 14:29 word by word
προφῆται δὲ δύο ἢ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν, καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:29
- 1 Corinthians 14:39So, brothers and sisters, desire to speak what God has revealed, and don’t keep anyone from speaking in other languages.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10Another can work miracles. Another can speak what God has revealed. Another can tell the difference between spirits. Another can speak in different kinds of languages. Another can interpret languages.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire.
- 1 John 4:1Dear friends, don’t believe all people who say that they have the Spirit. Instead, test them. See whether the spirit they have is from God, because there are many false prophets in the world.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29Let the prophets - Those who have the gift of speaking to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort; 1 Corinthians 14:3. Two or three - As prophesying implied psalmody, teaching, and exhortation, Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the meaning of the place is this: Let one sing who has a psalm; let another teach who has a doctrine; and let a third exhort, or comfort, who has a gift of that kind. And let the other judge - The other prophets, or qualified…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29Let the prophets - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. Speak two or three - On the same days, or at the same meeting; see the note at 1 Corinthians 14:27. And let the other judge - The word “other” ( ̔ ̓́ hoi alloi“the others”), Bloomfield supposes refers to the other prophets; and that the meaning is, that they should decide whether what was said was dictated by the Holy Spirit, or not. But the more probable sense, I think, is that which refers it to the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-33Verses 26-33 Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. The man who…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-32Public prophecy should be shared in an orderly manner, guided by the Spirit, so everyone benefits. Others should evaluate what is said to determine if it is truly a message from God (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21). Those with a prophecy should take turns. Although prophecy is a divinely given message, the speaker still controls it.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. two or three--at one meeting (he does not add "at the most," as in 1Co 14:27, lest he should seem to "quench prophesyings," the most edifying of gifts), and these "one by one," in turn (1Co 14:27, "by course," and 1Co 14:31). Paul gives here similar rules to the prophets, as previously to those speaking in unknown tongues. judge--by their power of "discerning spirits" (1Co 12:10), whether the person prophesying was really speaking under the influence…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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