1 Corinthians 14:9

1 Corinthians 14:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:9

7Yet even lifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct [musical] tones, how will anyone [listening] know what is piped or played? 8And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligible and clear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]! 10There are, I suppose, a great many kinds of languages in the world [unknown to us], and none is lacking in meaning. 11But if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will [appear to] be a foreigner to the one who is speaking [since he knows exactly what he is saying], and the one who is speaking will [appear to] be a foreigner to me.

1 Corinthians 14:9 word by word

οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς διὰ τῆς γλώσσης ἐὰν μὴ εὔσημον λόγον δῶτε, πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ λαλούμενον; ἔσεσθε γὰρ εἰς ἀέρα λαλοῦντες.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• likewiseκαίkai · andG2532
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• exceptἐάνean · ifG1437
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• ye utterδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the tongueὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the tongueγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
• wordsλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• easyεὔσημοςeusēmos · intelligibleG2154
• to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• shall it be knownγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• is spokenλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the airἀήρaēr · airG109

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:9

• 1 Corinthians 14:19nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say five understandable words in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].
• 1 Corinthians 9:26Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing].

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Likewise ye - If ye do not speak in the Church so as to be understood, your labor is useless; ye shall speak into the air - your speech will be lost and dissipated in the air, without conveying any meaning to any person: there will be a noise or sound, but nothing else. Gifts of that kind, thus used, are good for nothing.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9So likewise ye … - To apply the case. If you use a foreign language, how shall it be known what is said, or of what use will it be, unless it is made intelligible by interpretation? Utter by the tongue - Unless you speak. Words easy to be understood - Significant words (margin), words to which your auditors are accustomed. For ye shall speak into the air - You will not speak so as to be understood; and it will be just the same as if no one was present…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hear them, is but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them. Language plain and easy to be…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-12A message must be clear to communicate well.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. So ... ye--who have life; as opposed to "things without life" (1Co 14:7). by the tongue--the language which ye speak in. ye shall speak--Ye will be speaking into the air, that is, in vain (1Co 9:26).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:9

• Interpretation
• Language
• Preaching
• Tongues (the Gift)
• Words

In the dictionaries

• Air
• Confusion
• Desire
• Edification
• Except
• Pipe
• Profit
• Tongues, Gift of
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Holy Spirit

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings