1 Corinthians 14 · Verse 27

1 Corinthians 14:27

If 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.
1 Corinthians 14:27, King James Version

1 Corinthians 14:27 in other translations

BSBIf anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
WEBIf any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
ASVIf any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret:
YLTif an unknown tongue any one do speak, by two, or at the most, by three, and in turn, and let one interpret;
DARBYIf any one speak with a tongue, let it be two, or at the most three, and separately, and let one interpret;
BBEIf any man makes use of a tongue, let it not be more than two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let someone give the sense:
WebsterIf any man speaketh in an unknown language, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

What does 1 Corinthians 14:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
27. let it be by two--at each time, in one assembly; not more than two or three might speak with tongues at each meeting. by course--in turns. let one interpret--one who has the gift of interpreting tongues; and not more than one.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 27. Let it be by two, or at the most by three. That is, two, or at most three in one day, or in one meeting. So Grotius, Rosenmuller, Doddridge, Bloomfield, and Locke understand it. It is probable that many were endowed with the gift of tongues; and it is certain that they were disposed to exercise the gift even when it could be of no real advantage, and when it was done only for ostentation. Paul had shown to them (1Cor 14:22) that the main design of the gift of tongues was to convince unbelievers; he here shows them that if that gift was exercised in the church, it should be in such a way as to promote edification. They should not speak at the same time; nor should they regard it as necessary that all should speak at the same meeting. It should not be so as to produce disorder and confusion; nor should it be so as to detain the people beyond a reasonable time. The speakers, therefore, in any one assembly, should not exceed two or three.

And that by course. Separately; one after another. They should not all speak at the same time.

And let one interpret. One who has the gift of interpreting foreign languages, (1Cor 12:10,) so that they may be understood, and the church be edified.

(+) "tongue" "language" (++) "by course" "In succession"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 Speak in an unknown tongue - The Hebrew, as has already been conjectured. Let it be by two; or at the most by three, and that by course - Let only two or three in one assembly act in this way, that too much time may not be taken up with one exercise; and let this be done by course, the one after the other, that two may not be speaking at the same time: and let one interpret for all that shall thus speak.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 →

1 Corinthians 14:27 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἴτεeiteIfG1535
γλώσσῃglōssēwith a tongueG1100
τιςtisanyoneG5100
λαλεῖ,laleispeaks,G2980
κατὰkata[let it be] byG2596
δύοduotwoG1417
ἢēorG2228
τὸtotheG3588
πλεῖστονpleistonmostG4118
τρεῖςtreisthreeG5140
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀνὰanainG303
μέρος·merosturn;G3313
καὶkaiandG2532
εἷςheisoneG1520
διερμηνευέτω·diermēneuetōshould interpret;G1329

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 14:27

  • 1 Corinthians 14:26

    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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 14:26

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:27

    If 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:28

    But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si hablare alguno en lengua extraña, sea esto por dos, ó á lo más tres, y por turno; mas uno interprete.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si quelqu’un parle en langue, que ce soient deux, ou tout au plus trois, qui parlent, et chacun à son tour, et que quelqu’un interprète;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn nun jemand in einer Sprache redet, so sei es zu zwei oder höchstens drei und nacheinander, und einer lege aus.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sive lingua quis loquitur, secundum duos, aut ut multum tres, et per partes, et unus interpretatur.