1 COR 14:26 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) So brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you all gather together, each one of you brings a song or a teaching, or explains a revelation, or has a message in another language or has the translation. Let everything you do be aimed at growing the faith of the hearers.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT What then is to be, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, or has an interpretation. Let all things happen for building up.

UST My fellow believers, here is what I mean. Whenever you gather together to worship God, each believer has something to do. Some sing songs, others teach, others reveal things, others speak in an unknown language, others interpret an unknown language. Believers should do all these things to help other believers become stronger.

BSB What then [shall we say], brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm [or] a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, [or] an interpretation. All [of these] must be done to build up [ the church ].

14:26 CT everyone has

14:26 CT a revelation, a tongue

BLB What then is it, brothers? When you may come together, each has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

AICNT What then, brothers? When you come together, each one [[of you]][fn] has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation; let all things be done for building up.

14:26, of you: Some manuscripts include. D(05) BYZ TR

OEB What do I suggest, then, friends? Whenever you meet for worship, each of you comes, either with a hymn, or a lesson, or a revelation, or the gift of “tongues,” or the interpretation of them; let everything be directed to the building up of faith.

WEBBE What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.

LSV What then is it, brothers? Whenever you may come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be for building up;

FBV So then, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, different people will sing, or teach, or share a special message, or speak in a tongue, or give an interpretation. But everything should be done to build up and encourage the church.

TCNT What then should you do, brothers? When you come together, each one [fn]of you has a psalm, a teaching, a [fn]tongue, a revelation, or an interpretation. Everything must be done for edification.

14:26 of you 95% ¦ — CT 2.7%

14:26 tongue, a revelation ¦ revelation, a tongue CT

T4T So, my fellow believers, I will tell you [RHQ] what I think that you should be doing. When you come together to worship God, some of you may have a hymn to sing. Others may have something to teach the congregation. Others may have something to say that God has revealed to them. Others may give messages in languages that they have not learned. Others will explain the meaning of those messages. Make sure that all of these things that you do will make the congregation become more mature spiritually.

LEB ¶ _⌊Therefore what should you do_⌋[fn], brothers? Whenever you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things must be done for edification.

14:26 Literally “what therefore is it”

BBE What is it then, my brothers? when you come together everyone has a holy song, or a revelation, or a tongue, or is giving the sense of it. Let everything be done for the common good.

Moff Very well then, brothers; when you meet together, each contributes something — a song of praise, a lesson, a revelation, a "tongue," an interpretation? Good, but let every thing be for edification.

Wymth What then, brethren? Whenever you assemble, there is not one of you who is not ready either with a song of praise, a sermon, a revelation, a `tongue,' or an interpretation. Let everything be done with a view to the building up of faith and character.

ASV What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

DRA How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.

YLT What then is it, brethren? whenever ye may come together, each of you hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation? let all things be for building up;

Drby What is it then, brethren? whenever ye come together, each [of you] has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to edification.

RV What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
(What is it then, brethren/brothers? When ye/you_all come together, each one hath/has a psalm, hath/has a teaching, hath/has a revelation, hath/has a tongue, hath/has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. )

SLT Therefore, what is it brethren when ye come together, every one of you has a Psalms, has teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretatior. Let all things be for the building of the house.

Wbstr How is it then, brethren? when ye are assembled, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a language, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done to edification.

KJB-1769 How 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.
(How is it then, brethren/brothers? when ye/you_all come together, every one of you hath/has a psalm, hath/has a doctrine, hath/has a tongue, hath/has a revelation, hath/has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. )

KJB-1611 How is it then brethren? when ye come together, euery one of you hath a Psalme, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a reuelatiō, hath an interpretatiō: Let all things be done vnto edifying.
(How is it then brethren/brothers? when ye/you_all come together, every one of you hath/has a Psalm, hath/has a doctrine, hath/has a tongue, hath/has a revelatiō, hath/has an interpretatiō: Let all things be done unto edifying.)

Bshps Howe is it then brethren? When ye come together, euery one of you hath a psalme, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a reuelation, hath interpretation. Let all thynges be done vnto edifiyng.
(How is it then brethren/brothers? When ye/you_all come together, every one of you hath/has a psalm, hath/has a doctrine, hath/has a tongue, hath/has a revelation, hath/has interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifiing.)

Gnva What is to be done then, brethren? when ye come together, according as euery one of you hath a Psalme, or hath doctrine, or hath a tongue, or hath reuelation, or hath interpretation, let all things be done vnto edifying.
(What is to be done then, brethren/brothers? when ye/you_all come together, according as every one of you hath/has a Psalm, or hath/has doctrine, or hath/has a tongue, or hath/has revelation, or hath/has interpretation, let all things be done unto edifying. )

Cvdl How is it then brethren? Whan ye come together, euery one hath a psalme, hath doctryne, hath a tunge, hath a reuelacion, hath an interpretacion. Let all be done to edifyenge.
(How is it then brethren/brothers? When ye/you_all come together, every one hath/has a psalm, hath/has doctrine, hath/has a tongue, hath/has a revelation, hath/has an interpretation. Let all be done to edifying.)

TNT How is it then brethren? When ye come to gedder every man hath his songe hath his doctryne hath his tonge hath his revelacion hath his interpretacion. Let all thinges be done vnto edifyinge.
(How is it then brethren/brothers? When ye/you_all come together every man hath/has his song hath/has his doctrine hath/has his tongue hath/has his revelacion hath/has his interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifyinge. )

Wycl What thanne, britheren? Whanne ye comen togidere, ech of you hath a salm, he hath techyng, he hath apocalips, he hath tunge, he hath expownyng; alle thingis be thei don to edificacioun.
(What thanne, brethren/brothers? When ye/you_all came together, each of you hath/has a salm, he hath/has teaching, he hath/has apocalips, he hath/has tongue, he hath/has expounding; all things be they done to edification.)

Luth Wie ist ihm denn nun, liebe Brüder? Wenn ihr zusammenkommt, so hat ein jeglicher Psalmen, er hat eine Lehre, er hat Zungen, er hat Offenbarung, er hat Auslegung. Lasset es alles geschehen zur Besserung!
(How is him because/than now, love(v) brothers? When you(pl)/their/her comes_together, so has a any/each Psalmen, he has a/one teaching, he has tongues, he has revelation, he has Auslegung. Let it all/everything happen to/for Besserung!)

ClVg Quid ergo est, fratres? Cum convenitis, unusquisque vestrum psalmum habet, doctrinam habet, apocalypsim habet, linguam habet, interpretationem habet: omnia ad ædificationem fiant.[fn]
(What therefore it_is, brothers? Since agreedis, each_one/everybody of_you a_psalm/song has, teaching has, apocalypsim has, tongue/language has, interpretation has: everything to buildsionem be_done. )

14.26 Quid ergo. Jam incipit determinare quo modo linguis sit utendum; quasi dicat: Quandoquidem hæc veniunt de locutione linguarum; ergo quid agendum de his est? quasi dicat: Utamini linguis ad ædificationem, sicut cætera agenda sunt. Unusquisque, etc. Ideo nullus se excuset. Psalmum habet. Laudem Dei, per canticum. Doctrinam. Sensum spiritualem per prudentiam.

14.26 What therefore. Now begins determinare where just/only tongues/languages be utendum; as_if let_him_say: Quandoquidem these_things they_come from/about spokeone tongue/languagerum; therefore what agendum from/about his it_is? as_if let_him_say: Utamini tongues/languages to buildsionem, like the_rest agenda are. Everyone, etc. Therefore/For_that_reason none himself excuset. Psalmum has. Laudem of_God, through a_song. Doctrinam. Sensum spiritual through prudence.

UGNT τί οὖν ἐστιν, ἀδελφοί? ὅταν συνέρχησθε, ἕκαστος ψαλμὸν ἔχει, διδαχὴν ἔχει, ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει, γλῶσσαν ἔχει, ἑρμηνίαν ἔχει. πάντα πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν γινέσθω.
(ti oun estin, adelfoi? hotan sunerⱪaʸsthe, hekastos psalmon eⱪei, didaⱪaʸn eⱪei, apokalupsin eⱪei, glōssan eⱪei, hermaʸnian eⱪei. panta pros oikodomaʸn ginesthō.)

SBL-GNT Τί οὖν ἐστιν, ἀδελφοί; ὅταν συνέρχησθε, ⸀ἕκαστος ψαλμὸν ἔχει, διδαχὴν ἔχει, ⸂ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει, γλῶσσαν⸃ ἔχει, ἑρμηνείαν ἔχει· πάντα πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν γινέσθω.
(Ti oun estin, adelfoi; hotan sunerⱪaʸsthe, ⸀hekastos psalmon eⱪei, didaⱪaʸn eⱪei, ⸂apokalupsin eⱪei, glōssan⸃ eⱪei, hermaʸneian eⱪei; panta pros oikodomaʸn ginesthō.)

RP-GNT Τί οὖν ἐστίν, ἀδελφοί; Ὅταν συνέρχησθε, ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ψαλμὸν ἔχει, διδαχὴν ἔχει, γλῶσσαν ἔχει, ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει, ἑρμηνείαν ἔχει. Πάντα πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν γινέσθω.
(Ti oun estin, adelfoi; Hotan sunerⱪaʸsthe, hekastos humōn psalmon eⱪei, didaⱪaʸn eⱪei, glōssan eⱪei, apokalupsin eⱪei, hermaʸneian eⱪei. Panta pros oikodomaʸn ginesthō.)

TC-GNT Τί οὖν ἐστιν, ἀδελφοί; Ὅταν συνέρχησθε, ἕκαστος [fn]ὑμῶν ψαλμὸν ἔχει, διδαχὴν ἔχει, [fn]γλῶσσαν ἔχει, ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει, [fn]ἑρμηνείαν ἔχει. Πάντα πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν [fn]γινέσθω.
(Ti oun estin, adelfoi; Hotan sunerⱪaʸsthe, hekastos humōn psalmon eⱪei, didaⱪaʸn eⱪei, glōssan eⱪei, apokalupsin eⱪei, hermaʸneian eⱪei. Panta pros oikodomaʸn ginesthō. )

14:26 υμων 95% ¦ — CT 2.7%

14:26 γλωσσαν εχει αποκαλυψιν ¦ αποκαλυψιν εχει γλωσσαν CT

14:26 ερμηνειαν ¦ ερμηνιαν TH WH

14:26 γινεσθω ¦ γενεσθω TR ¦ γεινεσθω TH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 14:1–40 Believers should worship God in an orderly way

In this section Paul instructed the Corinthian believers about how they should worship God together. First, he compared prophecy and tongues. He stressed the value of prophecy for building up the church. Then he said they should conduct their worship services in an orderly and harmonious way. They were not to speak all at once. People who spoke in tongues should have someone to interpret, and women were to remain silent in the assembly.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Good order in worship

The spiritual gifts of prophecy and tongues

Use spiritual gifts to help the church grow

Paragraph 14:26

In this paragraph Paul talked about the right use of spiritual gifts in the worship services of the church.

14:26a

What then shall we say, brothers?

¶ So what is the conclusion, brothers and sisters?
¶ So what does this imply, my friends?

What then shall we say: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as What then shall we say is more literally “What is it then.” The same Greek phrase appears in 14:15. There are two ways to interpret what it means:

It refers to Paul’s argument. For example:
So what does this mean? (GW) (GW, NIV, GNT, REB, NLT)
It refers to what the believers should do. For example:
What should you do then? (NET) (NET, NRSV, NJB, NASB, NCV)

If it is necessary for you to choose between the interpretations, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1). This is supported by several commentaries.See, for example, Thiselton, p. 1132; Fee, p. 690; Conzelmann, p. 244. Paul introduced the next logical point in his argument.

This is a rhetorical question. Paul used it as an introductory statement. He introduced his conclusion that follows in verse 26.

Here are some ways to translate this statement:

Use a question. For example:
So what does this mean? (GW)
Use a statement that introduces a conclusion: For example:
This is what I mean (GNT)
To sum up (REB)
This is the conclusion

Translate this introductory statement in a way that is natural in your language.

brothers: The word brothers refers to all the believers in Corinth, both men and women. Paul addressed them in a friendly way. Here is another way to translate this:

my friends (GNT)

14:26b

When you come together,

When you^(plur) meet together,
When you meet to worship,

When you come together: The phrase When you come together refers to coming together for a church meeting. The GNT makes this explicit:

When you meet for worship (GNT)

14:26c-d

Paul stated the situation as it was in Corinth. All the believers had a gift from God that they could use to benefit the congregation. The gifts that Paul mentioned are examples of several different gifts. He did not mention all the possible gifts.

14:26c

everyone has a psalm or a teaching,

all of you can sing a song/hymn, or teach something.
one person has a song to sing. One person has a lesson to teach.

everyone has a psalm or a teaching: The phrase everyone has a psalm or a teaching indicates that the various believers all had something they could contribute. Each one could contribute something to the worship service. Some could participate by singing a psalm, and some by teaching the other believers.

everyone: The word everyone refers to all the believers present at the worship service. In some languages it may be natural to continue to use the second person subject that was used in 14:26b (“you”).There is a textual issue. Some Greek manuscripts read “each of you” rather than “everyone,” and this reading appears to followed by the NJB, KJV, and REB. The reading “everyone” is adopted by the UBS Greek text without discussion. However, it is more important to translate in a way that is natural rather than to follow one reading over another.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

you all

each of you (NJB)

a psalm: The word psalm refers to a religious song. These songs may have been from the book of Psalms, or they may have been ones that the singer had composed, or they may have been improvised at the time. The verb form of psalm appears in 14:15c.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

a song (NCV)

a song of praise

a hymn (NIV)

a teaching: The phrase a teaching refers to a religious teaching. See also 14:6c, where the same phrase appears.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a word of instruction (NIV)

some instruction (NJB)

a lesson that he will teach

14:26d

a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.

Or you can speak a message that God has revealed, or say something in unknown tongues, or interpret what is said.
One person has a message that God has revealed to him. One person speaks in unknown/miraculous languages, and one person explains the meaning of what they said.

a revelation: The word revelation refers to a message that God had told the speaker. See also 14:6c.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

a revelation from God (GNT)

a message that God has revealed to him

a tongue: The word tongue refers to a message spoken using the gift of tongues. Translate tongue in the same way as in 14:2a, and 14:6a.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

a message from God spoken in tongues

or an interpretation: The word interpretation refers to an explanation of the message that was said in tongues. A similar verb form is used in 14:5d and 14:13. Here is another way to translate this:

the explanation of what is said (GNT)

General Comment on 14:26c-d

In some languages it may be natural to express these gifts of the spirit in verb forms. For example:

everyone can sing a hymn, instruct others, declare a message that God has revealed to them, speak in an unknown tongue, or explain the message

14:26e

All of these must be done to build up the church.

Everything should be done in order to encourage the believers.
Whatever you do, do it to help the church.

All of these must be done to build up the church: The Greek text is more literally “Let all be for strengthening.” The BSB has supplied the words of these and the church to make the meaning clear in English.

Paul taught that everything the believers did in their assembly should be for strengthening one another. The Greek word translated as to build up is also used in 14:12. It refers to helping believers to grow in their faith.

This is a command. Here are some other ways to translate this command:

Everything must be done to help each other grow. (GW)

You must do all this in order to build up the church.

The verb must be done is passive. In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb.

Here are some ways to translate this using an active verb:

The purpose of all these things should be to help the church grow strong. (NCV)

you must do everything for the good of everyone there (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί οὖν ἐστιν, ἀδελφοί?

what (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν ἀδελφοί Ὅταν συνέρχησθε ἕκαστος ψαλμόν ἔχει διδαχήν ἔχει ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει γλῶσσαν ἔχει ἑρμηνείαν ἔχει Παντᾶ πρός οἰκοδομήν γινέσθω)

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. He himself gives the answer to the question in the next sentences. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question by using a word or phrase that introduces a conclusion or a clarification. Alternate translation: [This is what it is, brothers.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τί οὖν ἐστιν

Here Paul could be asking this question about: (1) what his argument means for the Corinthians. Alternate translation: [What then do I mean] (2) what the Corinthians should be doing. Alternate translation: [What then should you do]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀδελφοί

brothers

Although brothers is in masculine form, Paul is using it to refer to any believer, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express brothers with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [brothers and sisters]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / go

συνέρχησθε

˱you_all˲_˓may_be˒_coming_together

Here, come together refers to a group gathering in a specific place. Your language may say “go” or “gather” rather than come in contexts such as this. Use whatever is most natural. Alternate translation: [you go together] or [you assemble together]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

ἕκαστος

each

Here, each one refers to specific or individual believers in the Corinthian church. Paul does not mean that every person has each of these things, and he also does not mean that each person has only one of these things. Rather, he means that individual people within the Corinthian church may have any of these things When you come together. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express each one with a word or phrase that more clearly indicates that Paul is speaking in general. Alternate translation: [every one of you]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ψαλμὸν ἔχει, διδαχὴν ἔχει, ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει, γλῶσσαν ἔχει, ἑρμηνίαν ἔχει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν ἀδελφοί Ὅταν συνέρχησθε ἕκαστος ψαλμόν ἔχει διδαχήν ἔχει ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει γλῶσσαν ἔχει ἑρμηνείαν ἔχει Παντᾶ πρός οἰκοδομήν γινέσθω)

Here Paul repeats has in order to emphasize any believer might “have” any of these things When you come together. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express why Paul repeats has with another form that indicates that any person might have any of these things. Alternate translation: [has a psalm or a teaching or a revelation or a tongue or an interpretation]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ψαλμὸν ἔχει, διδαχὴν ἔχει, ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει, γλῶσσαν ἔχει, ἑρμηνίαν ἔχει

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas behind revelation or interpretation, you can express the ideas by using verbs such as “reveal” and “interpret.” If you do, you may need to translate all the items in the list with verbal phrases. Alternate translation: [sings a psalm, instructs, explains something that was secret, speaks in a tongue, or interprets a tongue]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἑρμηνίαν

Here, just as in [12:10](../12/10.md), interpretation refers specifically to interpreting a tongue. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state explicitly that the interpretation is about is an interpretation of a tongue. Alternate translation: [an interpretation of a tongue]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

πάντα πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν γινέσθω

Here Paul uses a third-person imperative. If you have third-person imperatives in your language, you could use one here. If you do not have third-person imperatives, you could express the idea using a word such as “should” or “must.” Alternate translation: [All things must happen for building up]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οἰκοδομὴν

Paul here speaks as if believers were a building that one “builds up.” With this metaphor, he emphasizes that the Corinthians should focus on helping other believers become stronger and more mature, just like the one who builds a house makes it strong and complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. See how you translated this metaphor in [14:12](../14/12.md). Alternate translation: [the growth] or [the edification]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν

Here the Corinthians would have understood Paul to mean that the building up applies to other believers. If your readers would not infer this, you could state it explicitly. Alternate translation: [for building up believers]

Parallel 1 COR 14:26

Section 14:1–40 Believers should worship God in an orderly way

Paragraph 14:26

14:26a

14:26b

14:26c-d

14:26c

14:26d

General Comment on 14:26c-d

14:26e

Parallel 1 COR 14:26