1COR 14:5 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. This view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation to see the verse in more of its context. 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.

OET (OET-RV) Now I’d like it if you all spoke in other languages, but I’d like it better if you could all be prophesying. The person prophesying is more helpful than someone speaking in other languages, unless they translate so that the assembly can be instructed.

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

ULT Now I desire you all to speak in tongues, but even more, that you might prophesy. Now the one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in tongues (unless he would interpret, so that the church might receive building up).

UST I want all of you to talk in unknown languages. What I want even more, however, is that you might proclaim what God says. Proclaiming what God says is more important and helpful than talking in unknown languages. Of course, if someone explains the unknown language, then it too can help believers become stronger.

BSB § I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

BLB Now I desire you all to speak in tongues, but rather that you should prophesy. Now the one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in tongues, unless he should interpret, so that the church might receive edification.

AICNT I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; for the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless they interpret, so that the church may receive edification.

OEB Now I want you all to speak in “tongues,” but much more I wish that you should preach. A preacher is worth more than one who speaks in “tongues,” unless they interprets their words, so that the faith of the church may be built up.

WEB Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

NET I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.

LSV and I wish you all to speak with tongues, and more that you may prophesy, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking with tongues, except one may interpret, that the Assembly may receive edification.

FBV Those who speak for God are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they interpret what's been said, so that the church can be built up.

TCNT Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. [fn]For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

14:5 For greater ¦ Greater CT

T4T I would like you all to have the ability to speak in languages [MTY] you have not learned. But I would like even more for you to have the ability to speak messages that come directly from God. People can speak messages in a language that they have not learned, but if there is no one there who can explain the meaning, that situation is not as helpful to the congregation as speaking messages that come directly from God in the language that the congregation knows.

LEB Now I want you all to speak with tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, in order that the church may receive edification.

BBE Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church.

MOF No MOF 1COR book available

ASV Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

DRA And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

YLT and I wish you all to speak with tongues, and more that ye may prophecy, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking with tongues, except one may interpret, that the assembly may receive edification.

DBY Now I desire that ye should all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy. But greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interpret, that the assembly may receive edification.

RV Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

WBS I would that ye all spoke in languages, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh in languages, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

KJB I 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.
(I would that ye/you_all all spake with tongues, but rather that ye/you_all prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speakth/speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. )

BB I woulde yt ye al spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: For greater is he that prophesieth, then he that speaketh with tongues, except he expounde it, that the Churche may haue edifiyng.
(I would it ye/you_all all spake with tongues, but rather that ye/you_all prophesied: For greater is he that prophesieth, then he that speakth/speaks with tongues, except he expounde it, that the Church may have edifiyng.)

GNV I would that ye all spake strange languages, but rather that ye prophecied: for greater is hee that prophecieth, then hee that speaketh diuers tongues, except hee expound it, that the Church may receiue edification.
(I would that ye/you_all all spake strange languages, but rather that ye/you_all prophecied: for greater is he that prophecieth, then he that speakth/speaks diverse/various tongues, except he expound it, that the Church may receive edification. )

CB I wolde that ye all spake with tunges, but rather that ye prophecied. For greater is he that prophecieth, then he that speaketh wt tuges: excepte he also expounde it, that the congregacion maye haue edifienge.
(I would that ye/you_all all spake with tongues, but rather that ye/you_all prophecied. For greater is he that prophecieth, then he that speakth/speaks with tuges: except he also expounde it, that the congregation may have edifienge.)

TNT I wolde that ye all spake with tonges: but rather that ye prophesied. For greater is he that prophisieth? then he that speaketh with tonges except he expounde it also that the congregacion maye have edifyinge.
(I would that ye/you_all all spake with tonges: but rather that ye/you_all prophesied. For greater is he that prophisieth? then he that speakth/speaks with tonges except he expounde it also that the congregation may have edifyinge. )

WYC And Y wole, that alle ye speke in tungis, but more that ye prophecie. For he that prophecieth, is more than he that spekith in langagis; but perauenture he expoune, that the chirche take edificacioun.
(And I will, that all ye/you_all speke in tongues, but more that ye/you_all prophecie. For he that prophecieth, is more than he that speakth/speaks in langagis; but perauenture he expoune, that the church take edification.)

LUT Ich wollte, daß ihr alle mit Zungen reden könntet, aber viel mehr, daß ihr weissagetet. Denn der da weissaget, ist größer, denn der mit Zungen redet, es sei denn, daß er es auch auslege, daß die Gemeinde davon gebessert werde.
(I wanted, that her all with Zungen reden könntet, but many mehr, that her weissagetet. Because the there weissaget, is größer, because the with Zungen redet, it be denn, that he it also auslege, that the Gemeinde davon gebessert become.)

CLV Volo autem omnes vos loqui linguis: magis autem prophetare. Nam major est qui prophetat, quam qui loquitur linguis; nisi forte interpretetur ut ecclesia ædificationem accipiat.
(Volo however everyone vos lowho linguis: magis however prophetare. Nam mayor it_is who prophetat, how who loquitur linguis; nisi forte interpretetur as ecclesia ædificationem accipiat. )

UGNT θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε; μείζων δὲ ὁ προφητεύων, ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ.
(thelō de pantas humas lalein glōssais, mallon de hina profaʸteuaʸte; meizōn de ho profaʸteuōn, aʸ ho lalōn glōssais, ektos ei maʸ diermaʸneuaʸ, hina haʸ ekklaʸsia oikodomaʸn labaʸ.)

SBL-GNT θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε· μείζων ⸀δὲ ὁ προφητεύων ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ ⸀διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ.
(thelō de pantas humas lalein glōssais, mallon de hina profaʸteuaʸte; meizōn ⸀de ho profaʸteuōn aʸ ho lalōn glōssais, ektos ei maʸ ⸀diermaʸneuaʸ, hina haʸ ekklaʸsia oikodomaʸn labaʸ. )

TC-GNT Θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε· μείζων [fn]γὰρ ὁ προφητεύων ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ [fn]διερμηνεύει, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ.
(Thelō de pantas humas lalein glōssais, mallon de hina profaʸteuaʸte; meizōn gar ho profaʸteuōn aʸ ho lalōn glōssais, ektos ei maʸ diermaʸneuei, hina haʸ ekklaʸsia oikodomaʸn labaʸ.)

14:5 γαρ ¦ δε CT

14:5 διερμηνευει ¦ διερμηνευη CT TR

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

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα

rather but in_order_that

Here Paul omits some words that your language may require to make a complete thought. Paul omits these words because he stated them explicitly in the previous clause (I desire). If your language does need these words, you could supply them from that clause. Alternate translation: “but I desire even more that” or “but even more, I desire that”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ὁ προφητεύων & ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις

the_‹one› prophesying & the_‹one› speaking ˱in˲_tongues

Here, just as in 14:4, Paul is speaking of people “prophesying” and people “speaking in tongues” in general, not of two particular people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form with a form that refers to people in general. Alternate translation: “anyone who prophesies … anyone who speaks in tongues”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μείζων

greater_‹is›

Here, greater indicates that the one prophesying does something that is more important and helpful than the one speaking in tongues. It does not mean that God cares about the person prophesying more than the person speaking in tongues. If you readers would misunderstand greater, you could state explicitly how or in what way the person is greater. Alternate translation: “does something more useful” or “does what is more valuable”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ

besides except ¬not/lest ˱he˲_/may_be/_interpreting in_order_that the assembly building /may/_receive

The ULT puts these clauses in parentheses because they give a qualification of what Paul has said about how the one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in tongues. In this clause, Paul clarifies that he is only speaking about tongues without interpretation. Further, if someone does interpret the tongues, then that can lead to building up, just like prophecy. Use a form in your language that would indicate a qualification or a parenthesis. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a period before it. Alternate translation: “That is true except for when he interprets, so that the church receives building up”

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ

besides except ¬not/lest ˱he˲_/may_be/_interpreting in_order_that the assembly building /may/_receive

If it would appear in your language that Paul was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. If you use this alternate translation, you may need to remove the parentheses. Alternate translation: “and does not interpret, because it is only when he interprets that the church receives building up”

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

διερμηνεύῃ

˱he˲_/may_be/_interpreting

Here, he could refer back specifically to the one speaking in tongues, but it does not have to do so. The word he could refer to anyone who can interpret, not just the person who is speaking in tongues. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind that he refers to anyone more clearly. Alternate translation: “he or somebody else would interpret”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

διερμηνεύῃ

˱he˲_/may_be/_interpreting

Although he is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to anyone, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express he with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: “he or she would interpret”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οἰκοδομὴν

building

Paul here speaks as if believers were a building that one “builds up.” With this metaphor, he emphasizes that the one speaking in tongues and also “interprets” helps 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 14:3. Alternate translation: “growth” or “edification”

Parallel 1COR 14:5