1 Corinthians 14:2

For 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

Parallel translations

4 additional translations

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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.

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.

YLT

for he who is speaking in an unknown tongue--to men he doth not speak, but to God, for no one doth hearken, and in spirit he doth speak secrets;

DBT

For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men but toGod: for no one hears; but in spirit he speaks mysteries.

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Commentary voices

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Voices5

On this verse

In 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, …

Thomas Aquinas· Commentary on 1 Corinthians, 1274patristic

Related commentary

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue,....

John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed

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. Lightfoots mode of reconciling these difficulties is the most likely I have met with.

Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832evangelical

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.

John Calvin· Commentaries, 1554reformed

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,

Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan

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Cross-references

31 linked verses

The verses this one reaches12

Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Acts 19:6
And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Acts 10:46
For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
Acts 2:4–11
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
1 Corinthians 13:2
If 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.
1 Corinthians 14:14
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 2:10
But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Colossians 1:26–27
the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.
Ephesians 3:3–9
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
1 Corinthians 14:9–11
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
Genesis 11:7
Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
1 Timothy 3:9
They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

19 more linked verses are grouped by book below ↓

Cross-references

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The quotation web

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Around this verse

Word doors

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

Featured studies

Featured studyThe Gifts of the Spirit — 1 Corinthians 12–14This study walks through this verse.

About this book

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians — A pastoral letter answering a long list of questions and problems — unity, ethics, worship, and the resurrection — written to a gifted but divided church.

Canon: New Testament
Author: Paul, with Sosthenes (1:1)
Date: c. AD 55, from Ephesus

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first — the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
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.
Through
1 Corinthians 13:2
If 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.
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.
Through
Acts 19:6
And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
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 independent paths from here.

The whole web at once: see the Arc.

Where the connections lead

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Continue: 1 Corinthians 14 →