The big picture
1 Corinthians 14 opens in verse 1 with “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 20 with “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in…”, and closes in verse 40 with “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Repeated or prominent terms include speaketh, tongue, tongues, church, understanding. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 401 Corinthians 14:1-8
1–8: Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may…
1 Corinthians 14:1–8 opens with “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” and reaches “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Prophecy and tongues practiced in an orderly gathering where intelligibility builds up the church, with particular weight carried by speaketh, except, prophesieth.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” Naming Follow keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” The line’s distinctive content terms include comfort, edification, exhortation. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Corinthians 14:1-8
King James Version1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1 Corinthians 14:9-16
9–16: So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be…
1 Corinthians 14:9–16 opens with “So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known…” and reaches “Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Prophecy and tongues practiced in an orderly gathering where intelligibility builds up the church, with particular weight carried by pray, spirit, speaketh.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 14:9-16
King James Version9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
1 Corinthians 14:17-24
17–24: For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
1 Corinthians 14:17–24 opens with “For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.” and reaches “But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Prophecy and tongues practiced in an orderly gathering where intelligibility builds up the church, with particular weight carried by believe, tongues, understanding.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
1 Corinthians 14:17-24
King James Version17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1 Corinthians 14:25-32
25–32: Thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on…
1 Corinthians 14:25–32 opens with “And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will…” and reaches “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Prophecy and tongues practiced in an orderly gathering where intelligibility builds up the church, with particular weight carried by prophets, tongue, brethren.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
1 Corinthians 14:25-32
King James Version25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1 Corinthians 14:33-40
33–40: For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches…
1 Corinthians 14:33–40 opens with “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” and reaches “Let all things be done decently and in order.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Prophecy and tongues practiced in an orderly gathering where intelligibility builds up the church, with particular weight carried by churches, ignorant, women.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 14:33-40
King James Version33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40Let all things be done decently and in order.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Corinthians 14:1 begins with “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Corinthians 14:23 forms a natural hinge: “If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will…”
The final note
1 Corinthians 14:40 leaves the reader with “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words speaketh, tongue, tongues, church, understanding, unknown help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What contrasts the two royal encounters?
Melchizedek blesses God as the source of victory; Abram refuses a financial arrangement that would let Sodom claim credit for his wealth.
How does Abram treat Lot after their separation?
He risks resources to rescue him rather than treating earlier disagreement as a reason for abandonment.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.