26What should be done then, my brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
The Greek that is translated as “building up” in many English versions is translated in Chol with a term that specifically indicates to make others better (here and elsewhere, in their faith in Christ). (Source: Robert Bascom)
In Huehuetla Tepehua it is translated as “have more confidence in Christ,” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “cause that their hearts grow strong with reference to the way of God,” in Yatzachi Zapotec as “to become stronger in their faith,” and in Central Tarahumara as “so that they can believe better yet.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
Eastern Highland Otomi: “speaking strange languages” (source for his and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
IndonesianAlkitab Terjemahan Lama version (publ. 1958): “speak the language of the spirit” (bahasa roh) — “which leaves a strong impression that this is a mystical experience.” (Source: Ekaputra Tupamahu in: Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2018, 41/2, p. 223ff.)
In most Protestant Mandarin Chinese translations, the term fāngyán (方言) or “dialect / regional language” is used. The widely-used Catholic Sigao translation uses yǔyán 语言 (語言) or “language” instead. (See also W. Chong in Religions 2024, 15, p. 288ff. )
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated as in den Sprachen der Engel reden or “speaking in the language of angels.” The translators explain (p. 104): “According to Jewish understanding, angels primarily spoke Hebrew. The ‘languages’ of angels are specific texts (such as songs). This is not related to a formal knowledge of language.” Note that in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 14 (from verse 26 on) and in Acts 2:4, Berger / Nord use “foreign language” instead.
In the German translation by Fridolin Stier (1989) it is translated as “speaking with ecstatic tongues” (mit verzückten Zungen reden).
The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” or “brother and sister” (in the sense of fellow believers), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)
In Matumbi is is translated as alongo aumini or “relative-believer.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 14:26:
Uma: “So, relatives, what is the meaning of all this? When you have-services, every person has his part: some sing, some teach, some deliver God’s Words, some speak with languages from the Holy Spirit, some interpret [move the meaning of] what they say so that all understand. But all this you must do in order to strengthen the hearts of others.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “This is it, my brothers, when you the ones trusting in Isa Almasi gather, it is good if some of you sing to praise God, there are/is also who preach, and there are/is also telling of what God has made known to him, there is/are also speaking in languages not understood by the people, and there is/are also who explain what was said in those different languages. All that you do while you are gathered should cause your trust in Isa Almasi to become stronger.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore, brothers, when you gather together, this is what is good to do. It would be good if one has prepared a song of praise to God, and another, he will teach and another, he will explain what God has caused him to understand. And there will be another one who will speak in a language he does not understand, and there will be also someone who will interpret this. And whatever you do there, it is necessary that it strengthens the faith of the believers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “What then do I mean to say my brothers? When you congregate, this is what you do/will do (nonpast). Each one of you will have something to sing or to teach or will have something to say that God has made-known to him. Someone will also speak a different language that he hasn’t learned and there will also be someone who interprets what he has said. Just see to it that all that is done, it results in the strengthening of the faith of all of you in the congregation.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well since it’s like this now, brethren, what is good in God’s sight? Is it not this that, when you gather to worship, each of you should be ready with the particular ability that the Espiritu Santo has freely-given (him). For instance maybe someone will sing, someone will teach, someone will speak what God had made known to him. As for others, maybe they will speak in a different language they have not studied, or give an explanation of this under the inspiration of the Espiritu Santo. But all of this, it’s necessary to do it to the strengthening of the believing/obeying of all.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Listen my brothers, there where you gather together there are those who want to sing psalms, there are those who want to teach the word of God, there are those who want to speak a word with God puts on their mind to speak, there are those who want to speak with words which are not understood, there are those who can tell the meaning of the different words which are not understood. This is good, but in all these words you speak, they must be words which strengthen the people who listen to them.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
What then…? represents the same Greek phrase that is translated “What am I to do?” in verse 15. Most translations agree with Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible that the expression refers to action in verse 15, and to the course of the argument in verse 26. The reason for this is no doubt that verse 15b mentions something Paul will do, while in the present passage, verse 26b contains a brief description of the situation. Recommendations for action begin only at verse 27. However, An American Translation (“then what is the right course, brothers?”) and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible think that Paul refers to action here; similarly New Revised Standard Version “What should be done, then, my friends?” Such an interpretation is possible, since the general tone of the section is practical. Moffatt‘s translation “Very well then” leaves the matter open in both places.
Brethren refers to “fellow Christians,” not to actual family members.
Good News Bible adds the words “for worship” after come together (“meet”). Translators can also do this, as the rest of the verse and also verse 23 strongly suggest that Paul has a full church meeting in mind.
The hymn would probably be, not an Old Testament psalm, but a Christian hymn as in Eph 5.19. Has a hymn may be rendered as “sings a hymn.”
A lesson (Good News Bible‘s “teaching”) is rather awkward in English. Another possible translation is “something to teach” or “teaches something.” Paul does not mention Christian prophecy in this verse. This may indicate that the meanings of “prophecy” and “teaching” overlap. Prophecy in a Christian setting is inspired teaching.
A revelation: “from God” (Good News Bible) is implied. For the meaning of revelation, see the comments on 1 Cor. 14.6. There is no suggestion here of revelation at the end of time. In some languages it may be preferable to say “something to reveal from God” or “speaks a message that God has revealed.”
A tongue: see the comments on 1 Cor. 14.6. One may render this phrase as “speaks a message in strange sounds.”
An interpretation is really “an explanation” (Good News Bible). This clause may also be rendered as “can explain what is said in the strange sounds.”
Let all things be done for edification can be rendered as “you should do everything in order to help and build up the believers.”
Good News Bible‘s linking words “one person … another … and still another” probably bring out the meaning more clearly than Revised Standard Version‘s literal each one. However, throughout this passage (verses 23, 24, 26, 31) Paul insists strongly that all the Corinthian Christians have, or at least can and should have, spiritual gifts. The translation should therefore avoid giving the impression that if a Christian had one spiritual gift, he could not have other gifts.
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
So what is the conclusion, brothers and sisters?
-or-
So what does this imply, my friends?
14:26b When you come together,
When you (plur.) meet together,
-or-
When you meet to worship,
14:26c everyone has a psalm or a teaching,
all of you can sing a song/hymn, or teach something.
-or-
one person has a song to sing. One person has a lesson to teach.
14:26d a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.
Or you can speak a message that God has revealed, or say something in unknown tongues, or interpret what is said.
-or-
One person has a message that God has revealed to him. One person speaks in unknown/miraculous languages, and one person explains the meaning of what they said.
14:26e All of these must be done to build up the church.
Everything should be done in order to encourage the believers.
-or-
Whatever you do, do it to help the church.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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