1 Corinthians 14:2
in 1 Corinthians 14For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
KJV
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
10 notes on this verseIn regard to the second it should be noted that because there were few in the early Church assigned to preaching faith of Christ throughout the world, the Lord enabled them to proclaim the word to more people by giving them the gift of tongues, …
This site's exposition
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God
on 1 Corinthians 14:2-4
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him: the first contrast is address, tongues directed Godward, unintelligible to the hearers even though the speaker utters real mysteries in the spirit. Prophecy is the opposite in every respect, verse 3 says, speaking to men, unto edification, exhortation and comfort, three words the bench reads as building up, stirring up, and soothing, the whole range of a congregation's need. Verse 4 states the contrast in its sharpest form, tongues edify the speaker himself, prophecy edifies the church, and both edifications are real, only one reaches beyond the one who has the gift.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
At this point he makes a comparison between the gifts, and lowers that of the tongues, showing it to be neither altogether useless, nor very profitable by itself. For in fact they were greatly puffed up on account of this, because the gift was considered to be a great one. And time of building the tower the one tongue was divided into many; so then the many tongues frequently met in one man, and the same person used to discourse both in the Persian, and the Roman, and the Indian, and many other tongues, the Spirit sounding within him: and the gift was called the gift of tongues because he could all at once speak divers languages. See accordingly how he both depresses and elevates it. Thus, by saying, "He that speaketh with tongues, speaketh not unto men, but unto God, for no man understandeth," he depressed it, implying that the profit of it was not great; but by adding, "but in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries" he again elevated it, that it might not seem to be superfluous and useless and given in vain.
The Medieval Church1 voice
He compares tongues with prophecy and shows that they are not completely useless in themselves; for they speak not to men, but to God, that is, they do not speak what is easily understood and clear to men, but by the Holy Spirit they speak …
The Reformation1 voice
He says in the outset -- He that speaketh in another tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: that is, according to the proverb, "He sings to himself and to the Muses." In the use of the word tongue, there is not a pleonasm, as in those expressions -- "She spake thus with her mouth," and "I caught the sound with these ears." The term denotes a foreign language.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue,....
He goes on to show them how unprofitable the speaking of foreign languages is, and useless to the church; it is like piping in one tone, like sounding a trumpet without any certain note, like talking gibberish; whereas gifts should be used for the good of the church,
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue - This chapter is crowded with difficulties. It is not likely that the Holy Spirit should, in the church, suddenly inspire a man with the knowledge of some foreign language, which none in the church understood but himself; and lead him to treat the mysteries of Christianity in that language, though none in the place could profit by his teaching. Dr. Lightfoot’s mode of reconciling these difficulties is the most likely I have met with.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
speaketh . . . unto God--who alone understands all languages. no man understandeth--generally speaking; the few who have the gift of interpreting tongues are the exception. in the spirit--as opposed to "the understanding" (1Co 14:14). mysteries--unintelligible to the hearers, exciting their wonder, rather than instructing them.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue - This verse is designed to show that the faculty of speaking intelligibly, and to the edification of the church, is of more value than the power of speaking a foreign language. The reason is, that however valuable may be the endowment in itself, and however important the truth which he may utter, yet it is as if he spoke to God only. No one could understand him. Speaketh not unto men - Does not speak so that people can understand him. His address is really not made to people, that is, to the church. He might have this faculty without being able to speak to the edification of the church. It is possible that the power of speaking foreign languages and of prophesying were sometimes united in the same person; but it is evident that the apostle speaks of them as different endowments, and they probably were found usually in different individuals. But unto God - It is as if he spoke to God. No one could understand him but God. This must evidently refer to the addresses “in the church,” when Christians only were present, or when those only were present who spoke the same language, and who were unacquainted with foreign tongues. Paul says that “there” that faculty would be valueless compared with the power of speaking in a manner that should edify the church. He did not undervalue the power of speaking foreign languages when foreigners were present, or when they went to preach to foreigners; see 1Co 14:22. It was only when it was needless, when all present spoke one language, that he speaks of it as of comparatively little value. For no man understandeth him - That is, no man in the church, since they all spoke the same language, and that language was different from what was spoken by him who was endowed with the gift of tongues. […]
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | The [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| λαλῶν | lalon | speaking | G2980 → | 294 times |
| γλώσσῃ | glosse | in a tongue | G1100 → | 49 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἀνθρώποις | anthropois | to men | G444 → | 549 times |
| λαλεῖ | lalei | speaks | G2980 → | 294 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| θεῷ· | theo | to God; | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| οὐδεὶς | oudeis | no [one] | G3762 → | 232 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἀκούει, | akouei | hears, | G191 → | 425 times |
| πνεύματι | pneumati | in the Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| λαλεῖ | lalei | he utters | G2980 → | 294 times |
| μυστήρια· | musteria | mysteries; | G3466 → | 27 times |
ὁThe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
λαλῶνspeaking
lalonG2980 →294 times
γλώσσῃin a tongue
glosseG1100 →49 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἀνθρώποιςto men
anthropoisG444 →549 times
λαλεῖspeaks
laleiG2980 →294 times
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
θεῷ·to God;
theoG2316 →1312 times
οὐδεὶςno [one]
oudeisG3762 →232 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἀκούει,hears,
akoueiG191 →425 times
πνεύματιin the Spirit
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
λαλεῖhe utters
laleiG2980 →294 times
μυστήρια·mysteries;
musteriaG3466 →27 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 16:17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
it leads to
- Acts 5:16
Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Acts 8:7
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
- Luke 10:17
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- John 14:12
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
- Acts 5:16
Through
1 Corinthians 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
- 1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
- 1 John 4:8
Through
Acts 19:6And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
it leads to
- Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 2:4
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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 35; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.