American Standard Version
1 Corinthians 14:2
2For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1 Corinthians 14:2 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
Context of 1 Corinthians 14:2
1Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritualgifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 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. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation. 4He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 141 Corinthians 14:2 word by word
ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ ἀλλὰ θεῷ· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια·Read the interlinear
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:2
- 1 Corinthians 14:9So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.
- Genesis 11:7Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
- Genesis 42:23And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.
- Deuteronomy 28:49Jehovah will bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
- 2 Kings 18:26Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not with us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
- Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- Acts 10:46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
- Acts 19:6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
- Acts 22:9And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:
- 1 Corinthians 13:2And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,
- Psalms 49:3My mouth shall speak wisdom; And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
- Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,
- Matthew 13:11And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
- Mark 4:11And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2For 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-4The issue with speaking in tongues is that listeners cannot easily understand the message. However, the gift of prophecy is clear and helpful. It is a message from God that strengthens, encourages, and comforts those who hear it.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. 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. Corinth, being a mart resorted to by merchants from Asia, Africa, and Europe, would give scope amidst its mixed population for…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:2
In the dictionaries
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries