1st Corinthians Chapter 14 verse 4 Holy Bible
He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
read chapter 14 in ASV
He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church.
read chapter 14 in BBE
He that speaks with a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies [the] assembly.
read chapter 14 in DARBY
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
read chapter 14 in KJV
read chapter 14 in WBT
He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
read chapter 14 in WEB
he who is speaking in an `unknown' tongue, himself doth edify, and he who is prophesying, an assembly doth edify;
read chapter 14 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 4. - Edifieth himself. When the "tongue" was genuine, and under due control (ver. 32); when it avoided the physical and orgiastic manifestations by which a sort of spiritual possession was indicated in the ancient oracular shrines; when the self consciousness was not wholly obliterated, - a sense of ennobling conviction would be produced by this spiritual outpouring. Those who have experienced the emotion describe this very result. They felt enlarged and elevated - their whole being was for a time expanded - by this emotion. The Church. Primarily the body of assembled Christians which he is addressing, and through them the Church of God in general.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) He that speaketh in an unknown tongue.--Better, He that speaketh in a tongue. The introduction of the word "unknown" destroys the whole force of the passage. All tongues--as distinct from languages--were unknown, i.e., unintelligible. The gift of prophecy is superior in usefulness to that of tongues, and therefore to be preferred. The use of the word "edify," as applied to an individual solely, as distinct from the individual as a part of the whole Church, is unusual with St. Paul (see Note on 1Corinthians 8:1), but is introduced so as to make the antithesis verbally as well as logically more striking.
