New Living Translation
1 Corinthians 14:2
2For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.
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
1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- he thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- in anγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
- notοὐou · noG3756
- unto menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- unto Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- man understandethἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- howbeitδέde · thenG1161
- in the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- mysteriesμυστήριονmustērion · mysteryG3466
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:2
- 1 Corinthians 14:9It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.
- Genesis 11:7Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”
- Genesis 42:23Of course, they didn’t know that Joseph understood them, for he had been speaking to them through an interpreter.
- Deuteronomy 28:49“The Lord will bring a distant nation against you from the end of the earth, and it will swoop down on you like a vulture. It is a nation whose language you do not understand,
- 2 Kings 18:26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Assyrian chief of staff, “Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don’t speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear.”
- Acts 2:4And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
- Acts 10:46For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,
- Acts 19:6Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.
- Acts 22:9The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.
- 1 Corinthians 13:2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
- Psalms 49:3For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight.
- Psalms 78:2for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
- Matthew 13:11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
- Mark 4:11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,
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
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