1 Corinthians 14:27
New International Version
If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.

New Living Translation
No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.

English Standard Version
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

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

Berean Literal Bible
If anyone speaks with a tongue, let it be by two or the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

New American Standard Bible
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret;

NASB 1995
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret;

NASB 1977
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret;

Legacy Standard Bible
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must translate;

Amplified Bible
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be limited to two or at the most three, and each one speaking in turn, and one must interpret [what is said].

Christian Standard Bible
If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret.

American Standard Version
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:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if any speak in languages, let two speak, or as many as three, and let each one speak and let one translate.

Contemporary English Version
No more than two or three of you should speak unknown languages during the meeting. You must take turns, and someone should always be there to explain what you mean.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in course, and let one interpret.

English Revised Version
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:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If people speak in other languages, only two or three at the most should speak. They should do it one at a time, and someone must interpret what each person says.

Good News Translation
If someone is going to speak in strange tongues, two or three at the most should speak, one after the other, and someone else must explain what is being said.

International Standard Version
If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret.

Literal Standard Version
if anyone speaks an [unknown] tongue, by two, or at the most, by three, and in turn, and let one interpret;

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

New American Bible
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, and each in turn, and one should interpret.

NET Bible
If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret.

New Revised Standard Version
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.

New Heart English Bible
If anyone speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

Webster's Bible Translation
If any man speaketh in an unknown language, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

Weymouth New Testament
If there is speaking in an unknown tongue, only two or at the most three should speak, and they should do so one at a time, and one should interpret;

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

Young's Literal Translation
if an unknown tongue any one do speak, by two, or at the most, by three, and in turn, and let one interpret;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Orderly Worship
26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:2
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:5
I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

1 Corinthians 14:13
Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

1 Corinthians 14:28
But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

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Course Interpret Language Makes Separately Someone Speak Speaketh Speaking Speaks Three Time Tongue Turn Unknown Use
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1 Corinthians 14
1. Prophecy is commended,
2. and preferred before speaking in tongues,
6. by a comparison drawn from musical instruments.
12. Both must be referred to edification,
22. as to their true and proper end.
26. The true use of each is taught,
27. and the abuse rebuked.
34. Women in the churches.














(27) If any man speak in an unknown tongue.--Better, If any man speak in a tongue. Here is the practical application of the general rule just laid down to the exercise of the gift of tongues. Those who had that gift were not all to speak together, and so cause confusion; only two, or at the most three, were to speak in each assembly, and each of such group was to speak in turn, one at a time. There was to be with each group one who had the gift of interpretation, and he was to interpret to the listeners.

Verse 27. - And that by course; rather, and that in turn. He does not allow more than one glossolalist to speak at a time, and not more than three at the most in any one service. This rule alone tended to extinguish the disorderly exhibition of" tongues." To control the passion which leads to it is, sooner or later, to stop the manifestation - a result which St. Paul would probably have been the last to regret, when its purpose had been accomplished.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
Εἴτε (Eite)
Conjunction
Strong's 1535: And if, whether. From ei and te; if too.

anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

speaks
λαλεῖ (lalei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

in a tongue,
γλώσσῃ (glōssē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1100: The tongue; by implication, a language.

two,
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

[at]
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

most
πλεῖστον (pleiston)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Superlative
Strong's 4118: The greatest, the most, very great. Irregular superlative of polus; the largest number or very large.

three,
τρεῖς (treis)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5140: Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; 'three'.

[should speak]
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

in
ἀνὰ (ana)
Preposition
Strong's 303: A primary preposition and adverb; properly, up; but used severally, or at.

turn,
μέρος (meros)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3313: A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

someone
εἷς (heis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

must interpret.
διερμηνευέτω (diermēneuetō)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1329: To translate, interpret, explain. From dia and hermeneuo; to explain thoroughly, by implication, to translate.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 14:27 If any man speaks in another language (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 14:26
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