1 Corinthians 14:19 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Yet in the church Paul would rather speak five understandable words that teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
What Does 1 Corinthians 14:19 Mean?
Having admitted his abundance in tongues, Paul states his deliberate preference for the gathered church. The contrast is deliberately extreme, five plain words against ten thousand unintelligible ones, to leave no doubt where his heart lies.
Five words that teach are worth more than a flood of words no one can follow. Paul measures speech by its harvest in others. His aim in the assembly is always to instruct, to leave people knowing and loving God better. This is the mind of Christ the Teacher, who spoke so that the humble could understand. Where the church gathers, the few clear words that build up outweigh any amount of impressive sound.
1 Corinthians 14:19 in the Original Language
katēcheō (κατηχέω), 'teach' -- to instruct by word of mouth, the root behind catechize, sounding truth into the hearer.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 14:19
What does 1 Corinthians 14:19 mean?
Yet in the church Paul would rather speak five understandable words that teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue.