1 Corinthians 14:13
in 1 Corinthians 14Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
KJV
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
12 notes on this verseIf the one who speaks in tongues does not have the power to interpret them, others will not understand, but he will know what he was moved by the Spirit to say. When this is understood by others as well, there will be fruit from it. Here as elsewhere, we are taught to seek the common good of the church.
This site's exposition
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts
on 1 Corinthians 14:12-13
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church: the zeal Paul commanded in verse 1 is not rebuked here but redirected, its proper aim not personal display but the church's building up. Verse 13 supplies the practical remedy for the tongue-speaker himself, let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret, so that the gift already given might yet serve the assembly it currently cannot reach. The bench notes Paul does not tell the Corinthians to stop desiring tongues, only to desire them toward the end that makes them useful in public.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret." Here he shows that it is in their power to obtain the gift. For, "let him pray," saith he, i.e., "let him contribute his own part," since if thou ask diligently, thou wilt surely receive. Ask accordingly not to have the gift of tongue only, but also of interpretation, that thou mayest become useful unto all, and not shut up thy gift in thyself alone.
You see that the barbarian philosophy professes deeds, not words. The apostle thus speaks: "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue a word easy to be understood, how shall ye know what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kind of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me." And, "Let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret."
The Medieval Church2 voices
He points out the way to make this gift useful for many. He says: let the one who speaks in tongues pray, so that he may also receive the gift of interpretation. So they themselves are to blame for not receiving the gift of interpretation, …
Having shown that the gift of prophecy excels the gift of tongues with reasons taken on the part of exhortation, the Apostle now shows the same thing with reasons taken on the part of prayer; for we perform these two things with the tongue, namely, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
That these were different gifts, see ch. xii. Those might speak and understand a foreign language who could not readily translate it into their own: and yet was this necessary to the church's edification; for the church must understand, that it might be edified, which yet it could not do till the foreign language was translated into its own.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue,....
He advises that worship should be celebrated so that the most ignorant might understand, and join in prayer and praise, and presses the advice by his own example,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Pray that he may interpret - Let him ask of God ability that he may explain it clearly to the church. It would seem probable that the power of speaking foreign languages, and the power of conveying truth in a clear and distinct manner, were not always found in the same person, and that the one did not of necessity imply the other.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Explain, "Let him who speaketh with a tongue [unknown] in his prayer (or, when praying) strive that he may interpret" [ALFORD]. This explanation of "pray" is needed by its logical connection with "prayer in an unknown tongue" (1Co 14:14).
Pray that he may interpret - Let him who speaks or reads the prophetic declarations in the Old Testament, in that tongue in which they were originally spoken and written, pray to God that he may so understand them himself, and receive the gift of interpretation, that he may be able to explain them in all their depth and latitude to others.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Διὸ | dio | For | G1352 → | |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαλῶν | lalon | speaking | G2980 → | 294 times |
| γλώσσῃ | glosse | in a tongue | G1100 → | 49 times |
| προσευχέσθω | proseuchestho | he should pray | G4336 → | 85 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| διερμηνεύῃ. | diermeneue | he may interpret. | G1329 → | 6 times |
ΔιὸFor
dioG1352 →
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
λαλῶνspeaking
lalonG2980 →294 times
γλώσσῃin a tongue
glosseG1100 →49 times
προσευχέσθωhe should pray
proseuchesthoG4336 →85 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
διερμηνεύῃ.he may interpret.
diermeneueG1329 →6 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Mark 11:24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
it leads to
- Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
- 1 John 5:14–15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- 1 John 3:22
and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
- James 1:5–6
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Matthew 18:19
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
- Matthew 21:22
Through
Acts 1:14With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
it leads to
- Acts 6:4
and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Acts 6:4
Through
1 Corinthians 12:10to 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.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 14:39
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
- 1 Corinthians 14:39
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 35; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 4.61-62; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.