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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:3

1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

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 14:4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
• 1 Corinthians 10:23All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
• Acts 9:31Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
• Romans 14:19Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
• Romans 15:2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
• Ephesians 4:12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
• 1 Timothy 1:4nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
• Jude 1:20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
• Luke 3:18And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
• Acts 13:15And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
• Acts 14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
• Acts 15:32Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
• Romans 12:8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:3For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

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