1 Corinthians 14 · Verse 39

1 Corinthians 14:39

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:39, King James Version

1 Corinthians 14:39 in other translations

BSBSo, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
WEBTherefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
ASVWherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
YLTso that, brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and to speak with tongues do not forbid;
DARBYSo that, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid the speaking with tongues.
BBESo then, my brothers, let it be your chief desire to be prophets; but let no one be stopped from using tongues.
WebsterWherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak in languages.

What does 1 Corinthians 14:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
39. covet--earnestly desire. Stronger than "forbid not"; marking how much higher he esteemed "prophecy" than "tongues."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 39. Covet to prophesy. 1Cor 14:1. This is the summing up of all that he had said. It was desirable that a man should wish to be able to speak, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, in such a manner as to edify the church.

And forbid not, etc. Do not suppose that the power of speaking foreign languages is useless, or is to be despised, or that it is to be prohibited. In its own place it is a valuable endowment; and on proper occasions the talent should be exercised. See in 1Cor 14:22.

(*) "tongues" "in different languages"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 Covet to prophesy - Let it be your endeavor and prayer to be able to teach the way of God to the ignorant; this is the most valuable, because the most useful gift of the Spirit. And forbid not to speak with tongues - Let every gift have its own place and operation; let none envy another; nor prevent him from doing that part of the work to which God, by giving the qualification, has evidently called him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:34-40

When the apostle exhorts Christian women to seek information on religious subjects from their husbands at home, it shows that believing families ought to assemble for promoting spiritual knowledge. The Spirit of Christ can never contradict itself; and if their revelations are against those of the apostle, they do not come from the same Spirit. The way to keep peace, truth, and order in the church, is to seek that…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 14:34-40 →

1 Corinthians 14:39 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.

Ὥστε,HōsteSo,G5620
ἀδελφοίadelphoibrothersG80
ζηλοῦτεzēloutedo earnestly desireG2206
τὸto<the>G3588
προφητεύειν,prophēteueinto prophesy,G4395
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸto<the>G3588
λαλεῖνlaleinto speakG2980
μὴmēnotG3361
κωλύετεkōluetedo forbidG2967
γλώσσαις.glōssaisin tongues.G1100

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 14:39

  • 1 Corinthians 12:31

    But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:1

    Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:20

    Despise not prophesyings.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:24-25

    But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:5

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:3

    But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
covet.
1,3,5,24,25; 12:31; 1Th 5:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 14:38

    But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:39

    Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:40

    Let all things be done decently and in order.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:39 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así que, hermanos, procurad profetizar; y no impidáis el hablar lenguas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi, frères, désirez avec ardeur de prophétiser, et n’empêchez pas de parler en langues.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Daher, Brüder, eifert danach zu weissagen, und wehret nicht, in Sprachen zu reden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Itaque fratres æmulamini prophetare: et loqui linguis nolite prohibere.