1 Corinthians 14:2
What does 1 Corinthians 14:2 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 14:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 14:2 means
Speaking in an unknown tongue aims primarily toward God, not people, because listeners do not grasp what is being said. The utterance may be a real communication—mysteries spoken in the Spirit—but it remains unintelligible to the church without interpretation. As a result, it cannot accomplish the main task of corporate worship: to instruct, comfort, and strengthen others. Paul does not deny the authenticity of tongues, nor their God-ward direction; he underscores their limited usefulness in the assembly when no one understands. The gift can have personal value, yet it does not serve the congregation unless meaning is supplied. This verse explains why edification, not impressiveness, must govern public speech.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For he who makes use of tongues is not talking to men but to God; because no one has the sense of what he is saying; but in the Spirit he is talking of secret things.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for he who is speaking in an <FI>unknown<Fi> tongue--to men he doth not speak, but to God, for no one doth hearken, and in spirit he doth speak secrets;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men but toGod: for no one hears; but in spirit he speaks mysteries.
Context
Paul begins contrasting tongues and prophecy by examining their differing effects in the gathered church. Verse 1 proposed prophecy as more desirable in worship for love’s sake; now verse 2 explains a practical reason: unintelligible speech reaches God but bypasses people. The line of thought builds toward the repeated theme that clarity is essential. Subsequent verses will describe prophecy’s benefits and present analogies showing the need for understandable communication. The argument is not whether tongues are real, but how and when they help the church. This sets the stage for later rules requiring interpretation and limiting the number of tongue-speakers in any meeting.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ephesians 3:3
how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,
- Mark 4:11
And 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:
- Colossians 1:26
even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,
- 1 Corinthians 14:18
I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:
- Psalms 49:3
My mouth shall speak wisdom; And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
- 2 Kings 18:26
Then 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.
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