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 King James Version (NKJV)But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:3

1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. 5I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.

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 14:4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
• 1 Corinthians 10:23You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.
• Acts 9:31The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
• Romans 14:19So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
• Romans 15:2We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
• Ephesians 4:12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
• 1 Timothy 1:4Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.
• Jude 1:20But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
• Luke 3:18John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.
• Acts 13:15After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”
• Acts 14:22where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
• Acts 15:32Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.
• Romans 12:8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:3So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.

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