1 Corinthians 14:27

If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

BSB

If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.

KJV

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.

ASV

If any man speaketh in a tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most three, and [that] in turn; and let one interpret:

BBE

If 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:

Original Greek

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εἴτε eite If G1535 γλώσσῃ glōssē with a tongue G1100 τις tis anyone G5100 λαλεῖ lalei speaks G2980 κατὰ kata [let it be] by G2596 δύο duo two G1417 ἢ ē or G2228 τὸ to the G3588 πλεῖστον pleiston most G4118 τρεῖς treis three G5140 καὶ kai and G2532 ἀνὰ ana in G303 μέρος meros turn G3313 καὶ kai and G2532 εἷς heis one G1520 διερμηνευέτω diermēneuetō should interpret G1329

The early church

"And if any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that in turn; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the Church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." What sayest thou, tell me? Having spoken so much of tongues, that the gift is a thing unprofitable, a thing superfluous, if it have no interpreter, dost thou command again to speak with tongues? I do not command, saith he, neither do I forbid; as when he saith, "if any of them that believe not bid you to a feast and ye be disposed to go," he saith it not laying down a law for them to go, but not hindering them: so likewise here. "And let him speak. to himself and to God." If he endure not to be silent, saith he, but is so ambitious and vain-glorious, "let him speak by himself." And thus, by the very fact of so permitting, he greatly checked and put them to shame. Which he doth also elsewhere, discoursing of converse with a wife and saying, "But this I say because of your incontinency." But not so did he speak, when he was discoursing of prophecy. How then? In a tone of command and legislation: "Let the prophets speak, two or three." And he no where here seeks the interpreter, nor doth he stop the mouth of him that prophesies as under the former head, saying, "If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence;" because in fact he who speaks in a tongue is not sufficient of himself. Wherefore if any hath both gifts, let him speak. But if he hath not, yet wish to speak, let him do so with the interpreter's aid. For the prophet is an interpreter, but of God; whereas thou art of man. "But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence:" for nothing ought to be done superfluously, nothing for ambition. Only "let him speak to himself and to God;" i.e., mentally, or quietly and without noise: at least, if he will speak. For this is surely not the tone of one making a law, but it may be of one who shames them more even by his permission; as when he saith, "but if any hunger, let him eat at home:" and seeming to give permission, he touches them hereby the more sharply. "For ye come not together for this purpose," saith he, "that ye may show that ye have a gift, but that ye may edify the hearers;" which also he before said, "Let all things be done unto edifying."
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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 all at once. The man who is inspired by the Spirit of God will observe order and decency in delivering his revelations. God never teaches men to neglect their duties, or to act in any way unbecoming their age or station.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 14 →

Cross-references

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Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.