Language

Syrian - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

SYR'IAN, a. Pertaining to Syria.

Tongue - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

TONGUE

TONGUE-GR`AFTING

TUNG'-GR`AFTING, n. A mode of grafting by inserting the end of a cion in a particular manner.

sir'-i-an (the King James Version SYRIAC).

See SYRIAC VERSIONS.

tung: Almost invariably for either lashon, or glossa the latter word with the cognates heteroglossos, "of strange tongues" (1Co 14:21), glossodes, "talkative," English Versions of the Bible "full of tongue" (Sirach 8:3; 9:18), glossotomeo, "to cut out the tongue" (2 Macc 7:4), diglossos, "double-tongued" (Sirach 5:9; 28:13). In 1Ti 3:8, however, "double-tongued" is for dilogos, literally, "two-worded." Where "tongue" in the King James Version translates dialektos (Ac 1:19; 2:8; 21:40; 22:2; 26:14), the Revised Version (British and American) has "language," while for the King James Version "in the Hebrew tongue" in Joh 5:2; Re 9:11; 16:16 (Hebraisti) the Revised Version (British and American) has simply "in Hebrew." In addition, in the Old Testament and Apocrypha, the King James Version uses "to hold one's tongue" as a translation for various verbs meaning "to be silent"; the Revised Version (British and American) in the Old Testament writes "to hold one's peace" and in the Apocrypha "to be silent," except in Sirach 32:8, where the King James Version is retained (siopao).

The various uses of "tongue" in English are all possible also for lashon and glossa, whether as the physical organ (Ex 11:7; Mr 7:33, etc.) or as meaning "language" (Ge 10:5; Ac 2:4, etc.) or as describing anything shaped like a tongue (Isa 11:15; Ac 2:3, etc.). In addition, both words, especially lashon appear in a wider range of meanings than can be taken by "tongue" in modern English. So the tongue appears as the specific organ of speech, where we should prefer "mouth" or "lips" (Ex 4:10; Ps 71:24; 78:36; Pr 16:1; Php 2:11, etc.), and hence, "tongue" is used figuratively for the words uttered (Job 6:30; Ps 139:4; 1Joh 3:18, etc.). So the tongue can be said to have moral qualities (Ps 109:2; Pr 15:4, etc.) or to be "glad" (Ac 2:26); to "love with the tongue" (1 Joh 3:18) is to love in word only, and to be "double-tongued" (Sirach 5:9; 28:13; 1Ti 3:8 is to be a liar. A further expansion of this figurative use has produced expressions that sound slightly bizarre in English, although their meaning is clear enough: e.g., "Who have whet their tongue like a sword" (Ps 64:3); "His tongue is as a devouring fire" (Isa 30:27); "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer" (Ps 45:1), and, especially, "Their tongue walketh through the earth" (Ps 73:9).

In Job 20:12, "Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue," the figure is that of an uncultured man rolling a choice morsel around in his mouth so as to extract the utmost flavor. In Ps 10:7; 66:17 (Revised Version margin), however "under the tongue" means "in readiness to utter," while in So 4:11, "Honey and milk are under thy tongue," the pleasure of a caress is described. To "divide their tongue" (Ps 55:9) is to visit on offenders the punishment of Babel.

See TONGUES, CONFUSION OF.

Burton Scott Easton

Definition

The term “tongue” refers to the organ inside a person’s mouth that is used to speak. The term is often used figuratively to mean “language” or “speaking.” There also several other figurative meanings as well.

• In the Bible, the most common figurative meaning for this term is “language” or “speech.”
• Sometimes “tongue” may refer to a human language spoken by a certain people group.
• Other times it refers to a supernatural language that the Holy Spirit gives believers in Christ as one of the “gifts of the Spirit.”
• In the book of Acts, the expression “tongues” of fire refers to “flames” of fire, presumably shaped like tongues.

Translation Suggestions

• Depending on the context, the term “tongue” can be translated as “language” or “supernatural language.” If it is not clear which one it is referring to, it is better to translate it as “language.”
• When referring to fire, this term could be translated as “flames.”
• The expression “my tongue rejoices” could be translated as “I rejoice and praise God” or “I am joyfully praising God.”
• The phrase, “tongue that lies” could be translated as “person who tell lies” or “people who lie.”
• Phrases such as “with their tongues” could be translated as “with what they say” or “by their words.”

(See also: gift, Holy Spirit, joy, praise, rejoice, spirit)

Bible References

• 1 Corinthians 12:10
• 1 John 3:18
• 2 Samuel 23:2
• Acts 2:26
• Ezekiel 36:3
• Philippians 2:11

Word Data

• Strong’s: H3956, G11000, G12580, G20840