1 Corinthians 14:19

But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian assembly during a discussion on spiritual gifts, immediately following his acknowledgment that he speaks in tongues more than all of them. He establishes a boundary for corporate worship by contrasting personal utterance with public instruction.

The words — The conjunction ἀλλ᾽ (all᾽) means "but," marking a direct pivot from his previous claim. ἐκκλησίᾳ (ekklēsia) refers to the gathered assembly, while θέλω (thelō) declares his deliberate preference for five intelligible words over ten thousand in an unknown tongue.

The thread — The text explicitly states that unintelligible speech benefits the speaker alone, whereas clear speech builds up the congregation (1 Corinthians 14:4). Paul later anchors this standard in the Law, noting that God spoke through foreign tongues to a people who refused to heed Him (1 Corinthians 14:21).

Why it lands — The verse requires that communicative worth be judged by its instructional clarity rather than its quantity or spiritual intensity. Readers must subordinate personal expression to the practical edification of the gathered community.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Yet 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.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 14:21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.