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 and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to God—for no one understands, but in the Ruach he speaks mysteries. 3But one who prophesies speaks to people for building up, urging on, and uplifting. 4One who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but one who prophesies builds up the community.

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

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 14:9So also with you with your tongue—unless you utter speech that is intelligible, how will what is spoken be understood? For you will be talking to the wind!
• Genesis 11:7Come! Let Us go down and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand each other’s language.”
• Genesis 42:23They did not know that Joseph was listening, since there was an interpreter between them.
• Deuteronomy 28:49“Adonai will raise up a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, just as the eagle swoops down—a nation whose language you will not understand,
• 2 Kings 18:26Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak to us in the language of the Jews when the people on the wall are listening.”
• Acts 2:4They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.
• Acts 10:46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
• Acts 19:6And when Paul laid hands upon them, the Ruach ha-Kodesh came upon them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
• Acts 22:9“Now those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
• 1 Corinthians 2:7Rather, we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery—a wisdom that has been hidden, which God destined for our glory before the ages.
• 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 have not love, I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 15:51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
• Psalms 49:3both low and high, rich and poor together.
• Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth with a parable. I will utter perplexing sayings from of old,
• Matthew 13:11And He replied to them, “To you has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
• Mark 4:11And He told them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God. But for those who are outside, everything is in parables, so that

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