The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 14:39 Explained

1 Corinthians 14:39

KJV: Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

YLT: so that, brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and to speak with tongues do not forbid;

Darby: So that, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid the speaking with tongues.

ASV: Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore,  brethren,  covet  to prophesy,  and  forbid  not  to speak  with tongues. 

What does 1 Corinthians 14:39 Mean?

Verse Meaning

"Therefore" signals a summation of the entire argument on spiritual gifts. "My brethren" sounds a loving note at the end of this very stern discussion (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10). "Desire earnestly to prophesy" repeats the imperative with which Paul began ( 1 Corinthians 14:1). "Do not forbid to speak in tongues" concedes the legitimacy of their favorite gift. Paul heartily encouraged the exercise of the gift of prophecy, but he only permitted the gift of speaking in tongues with certain qualifiers.
As time passed, God no longer gave prophets revelations concerning the future. The apostle John was evidently the last person to function as a prophet in this sense (cf. Revelation 22:18). They also no longer received new revelation from the Lord. We can see this passing away even during the history of the church that Luke recorded in Acts. Much of the revelation contained in the books of the New Testament was of this type. In this sense the gift of prophecy was foundational to the establishment of the church and has ceased ( Ephesians 2:20). Nevertheless people continued to speak forth messages from the Lord, the basic meaning of the Greek word propheteuo (to prophesy). In the more general sense this gift is still with us today (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:3).
Paul said his readers were not to forbid speaking in tongues. He meant they were not to do so provided they followed the rules he had just explained for the exercise of the gift. Certainly if someone has the New Testament gift of tongues, he or she should observe these rules today as well. However, many Christians seriously doubt that anyone has this gift today. Christians involved in the charismatic movement believe the gift does exist today. Nevertheless the differences between tongues-speaking as practiced today and what took place in first-century churches has led many believers to conclude that these are very different experiences.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 14:26-40 - Order Of Church Services
Again the Apostle sums up his directions in two simple rules: 1. Let all things be done unto edifying; that is, to building up individual character, and to fitting each member as a brick or stone into the rising fabric of the Church. Hence the stress laid on prophesying or speaking under the impulse of God's Spirit. All who had that gift should certainly have a chance to use it, because the whole Church would be thereby profited and enriched. 2. Let all things be done decently and in order: decently, so as not to interrupt the dignity and gravity of the services; in order, not by hazard or impulse, but by design and arrangement.
The Apostle's ideal is that of the calm and simple majesty which should mark all solemn assemblies, as distinct from fanatical and frenzied excitement. Hence he discountenances the disuse of the Eastern veil (the badge of modesty), the speaking of women in public, and the interruption of speakers by each other. That the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets is a truth of universal application. It condemns every impulse of a religious character which is not under the intelligent control of those who display it. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 14:39 mean?

So brothers of me earnestly desire - to prophesy and to speak not do forbid in tongues
Ὥστε ἀδελφοί μου ζηλοῦτε τὸ προφητεύειν καὶ λαλεῖν μὴ κωλύετε γλώσσαις

Ὥστε  So 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὥστε  
Sense: so that, insomuch that.
ἀδελφοί  brothers 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ζηλοῦτε  earnestly  desire 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ζηλεύω 
Sense: to burn with zeal.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
προφητεύειν  to  prophesy 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: προφητεύω  
Sense: to prophesy, to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, to predict.
λαλεῖν  to  speak 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
κωλύετε  do  forbid 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κωλύω  
Sense: to hinder, prevent forbid.
γλώσσαις  in  tongues 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: γλῶσσα  
Sense: the tongue, a member of the body, an organ of speech. 2 a tongue.