What Does 1 Corinthians 14:27 Mean in the King James?

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.

1 Corinthians 14:27 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

A tongue is given only a portion of the gathering, and interpretation turns that portion into meaning others can receive.

THE MEANING

When speech rises in a tongue among you, it takes a measured place: two or three at most, one after another, with one interpreting. The gathering receives more than sound; the utterance is carried into meaning it can share.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A mysterious utterance automatically serves the gathering even when no one understands it.

THE ROOT

διερμηνευέτω

diermēneuetō

GROWS FROM

διερμηνεύω

diermēneuō

to interpret, explain, or translate

“interpret” in this verse is diermēneuetō. The instruction reaches beyond speaking: the utterance must also become intelligible. This word family names both the act of interpretation and the person who interprets, linking speech to the shared understanding it can open.

ALSO GROWS

diermēneia: interpretation

διερμηνεία

The same word family names the interpretation of tongues, showing that understanding is part of how the utterance reaches the gathering.

diermēneutēs: interpreter

διερμηνευτής

The interpreter is not an afterthought; the word family gives a name to the person who carries speech into meaning for others.

ἀνὰ μέρος

ana meros

GROWS FROM

μέρος

meros

a part, portion, or share

“by course” in this verse is ana meros. The phrase means speaking one by one, while ⁨μέρος⁩ carries the sense of a part or share. Each voice receives a portion of the gathering rather than taking the whole space.

ALSO GROWS

merizō: to divide or distribute

μερίζω

This related verb shows the sense of something apportioned, illuminating the measured turn each speaker receives.

merismos: division or distribution

μερισμός

This noun carries the same sense of apportionment, making the turn-taking feel like a share assigned within a common space.

THE PATTERN

Speech among a community becomes shareable when it is ordered and made understandable.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Nehemiah 8:8 · KJVThe reading is paired with its sense so the people can understand what they hear.

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Acts 2:8 · KJVThe many voices become understandable to each hearer in a language they know.

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

1 Corinthians 14:9 · KJVSpeech that cannot be understood fails to reach the people hearing it.

THE THREAD

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:5 · KJV

The same Greek interpret verb appears here, and the verse names the result: the assembly receives edifying when the utterance is interpreted. Verse 27 gives that same movement a shape, measured turns, then meaning the gathering can receive.

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