KJV King James Version
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
WEB World English Bible
Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
ASV American Standard Version
Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Brethren, become not children in the understanding, but in the evil be ye babes, and in the understanding become ye perfect;
Surrounding context — 1 Corinthians 14
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Ἀδελφοί,G80 · adelphosbrotherμὴG3361 · mēnotπαιδίαG3813 · paidionchildγίνεσθεG1096 · ginomaito beταῖςG3588 · hothe/this/whoφρεσίν,G5424 · phrēnthinkingἀλλὰG235 · allabutτῇG3588 · hothe/this/whoκακίᾳG2549 · kakiaevilνηπιάζετε,G3515 · nēpiazōbe childlikeταῖςG3588 · hothe/this/whoδὲG1161 · dethenφρεσὶνG5424 · phrēnthinkingτέλειοιG5046 · teleiosperfectγίνεσθε.G1096 · ginomaito be
Cross-references
1 Corinthians 13:11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.1 Peter 2:2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:Romans 16:19For your obedience is come abroad unto all [men]. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.Matthew 18:3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.Ephesians 4:14-15That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;1 Corinthians 2:6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:2 Peter 3:18But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.Philippians 1:9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment;Mark 10:15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.Philippians 3:15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.Psalm 119:99I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation.Hebrews 6:1-3Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,Hebrews 5:12-13For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.Isaiah 11:3And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:1 Corinthians 3:1-2And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.Psalm 131:1-2A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.Matthew 19:4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female,
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:20
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →