1 Corinthians 14:21

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἐν τῷ νόμῳ γέγραπται, ὅτι Ἐν ἑτερογλώσσοις καὶ ἐν χείλεσιν ἑτέροις λαλήσω τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ· καὶ οὐδʼ οὕτως εἰσακούσονταί μου, λέγει Κύριος.

Transliteration

In the nomō gegraptai, hoti In heteroglōssois kai in cheilesin heterois lalēsō to-the laō to-toutō; kai oud' houtōs eisakousontai of-me, legei Kyrios.

Grammar Details

*nomō*: dative, masculine, singular - in law
*gegraptai*: perfect passive indicative, 3rd singular - it has been written/it stands written
*hoti*: conjunction - that [introduces quotation]
*heteroglōssois*: dative, masculine or neuter, plural - with other tongues/foreign languages
*kai*: conjunction - and/also
*cheilesin*: dative, neuter, plural - with lips
*heterois*: dative, neuter, plural - other/different
*lalēsō*: future indicative, 1st singular - I will speak
*laō*: dative, masculine, singular - to people/nation
*toutō*: dative, masculine, singular - to this
*oud'*: negative particle + conjunction - and not/not even
*houtōs*: adverb - thus/so/in this way
*eisakousontai*: future middle indicative, 3rd plural - they will listen/hear
*legei*: present indicative, 3rd singular - says/speaks
*Kyrios*: nominative, masculine, singular - Lord/Master

Word Meanings

*nomō*: law/Torah/Scripture
*gegraptai*: has been written/stands written [perfect indicating permanent state]
*heteroglōssois*: other tongues/foreign languages/different speech
*cheilesin*: lips/mouths/speech
*heterois*: other/different/foreign
*laō*: people/nation/population
*eisakousontai*: will listen/will hear/will heed/will obey
*Kyrios*: Lord/Master/YHWH [translation of Hebrew divine name]

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Isa 28:11-12 : 11 Nay, but by [men of] strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people; 12 to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
John 10:34 : 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?
Deut 28:49 : 49 Jehovah will bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
Jer 5:15 : 15 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.
Rom 3:19 : 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Isa 28:11-12
2 verses
83%
11Nay, but by [men of] strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people;
12to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
1 Cor 14:22-24
3 verses
80%
22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying [is for a sign], not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.
23If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?
24But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;
Rom 15:21
76%
21but, as it is written, They shall see, to whom no tidings of him came, And they who have not heard shall understand.
1 Cor 14:2
76%
2For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1 Cor 14:9-11
3 verses
75%
9So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.
10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no [kind] is without signification.
11If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.
Acts 28:26
75%
26saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
Ezek 3:5-6
2 verses
73%
5For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel;
6not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee.
1 Cor 14:18-20
3 verses
73%
18I thank {G3450} God, I speak with tongues more than you all:
19howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.
Matt 13:13-14
2 verses
73%
13Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
1 Cor 14:4-7
4 verses
73%
4He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except {G3361} he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless {G3361} I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
7Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
1 Cor 14:39
73%
39Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1 Cor 14:13-15
3 verses
72%
13Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Isa 29:12-13
2 verses
71%
12and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned.
13And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh [unto me], and with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught [them];
1 Cor 14:26-28
3 verses
70%
26What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27If any man speaketh in a tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most three, and [that] in turn; and let one interpret:
28but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Isa 33:19
70%
19Thou shalt not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that thou canst not comprehend, of a strange tongue that thou canst not understand.
Jer 7:27
70%
27And thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.
Jer 5:21
70%
21Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; that have eyes, and see not; that have ears, and hear not:
Isa 6:9
70%
9And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Ps 135:17
69%
17They have ears, but they hear not; Neither is there any breath in their mouths.
Jer 6:10
69%
10To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of Jehovah is become unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
Ezek 3:26
69%
26and I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover; for they are a rebellious house.
1 John 4:5
69%
5They are of the world: therefore {G5124} speak they [as] of the world, and the world heareth them.
Isa 30:9
69%
9For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah;
Rom 10:18
69%
18But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.
Rom 11:8
69%
8according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.
Acts 2:8
69%
8And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?
Ps 19:3
69%
3There is no speech nor language; Their voice is not heard.
Rom 10:14
69%
14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Acts 10:46
69%
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
John 8:43
68%
43Why {G5101} do ye not understand my speech? [Even] because ye cannot {G1410} hear my word.
Gal 4:21
68%
21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Acts 2:4
68%
4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Mark 4:12
68%
12that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.