📖WEB · 1 Corinthians 14:19
What does 1 Corinthians 14:19 mean?
"However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language."
— 1 Corinthians 14:19 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?
For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord.”
Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
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