1 Corinthians 14:2

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

1Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

1 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

• speaksλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• in a tongueγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
• to peopleἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• but to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• for noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• understandsἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• mysteriesμυστήριονmustērion · mysteryG3466

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:2

• 1 Corinthians 14:9So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air.
• Genesis 11:7Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
• Genesis 42:23They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them.
• Deuteronomy 28:49“The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, as the eagle swoops down; a nation whose language you will not understand,
• 2 Kings 18:26Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, “Speak now to your servants in Aramaic, because we understand it; and do not speak with us in Judean so that the people who are on the wall hear you.”
• Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.
• Acts 10:46For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded,
• Acts 19:6And when Paul had laid hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
• Acts 22:9And those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
• 1 Corinthians 2:7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
• 1 Corinthians 13:2If 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 do not have love, I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 15:51Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
• Psalms 49:3My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
• Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will tell riddles of old,
• Matthew 13:11And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
• Mark 4:11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes 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

• Language
• Preaching
• Tongues (the Gift)

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Confusion
• Desire
• Edification
• Except
• Pipe
• Profit
• Tongues, Gift of
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the

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