1 Corinthians 14:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

In the same way, unless you speak intelligible words through your tongue, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will speak into the air.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    So{G3779} also{G2532} ye,{G5210} unless{G1437} ye{G5210} utter{G1325} by{G1223} the tongue{G1100} speech{G3056} easy{G2154} to be{G2071} understood,{G2154} how{G4459} shall it be known{G1097} what{G3588} is spoken?{G2980} for{G1063} ye will be speaking{G2980} into{G1519} the air.{G109}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    So{G3779} likewise{G2532} ye{G5210}, except{G3362} ye utter{G1325}{(G5632)} by{G1223} the tongue{G1100} words{G3056} easy to be understood{G2154}, how{G4459} shall it be known{G1097}{(G5701)} what is spoken{G2980}{(G5746)}? for{G1063} ye shall{G2071}{(G5704)} speak{G2980}{(G5723)} into{G1519} the air{G109}.

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    Eve so lykwyse whe ye speake with toges excepte ye speake wordes that have signification how shall yt be vnderstonde what is spoke? For ye shall but speake in the ayer.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Euen so ye likewyse, whan ye speake with tunges, excepte ye speake playne wordes, how shal it be knowne what is spoke? for ye shal but speake in ye ayre.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    So likewise you, by the tongue, except yee vtter wordes that haue signification, howe shall it be vnderstand what is spoken? for ye shal speake in the ayre.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Euen so lykewyse, when ye speake with tongues, except ye speake wordes that haue signification, howe shall it be vnderstande what is spoken? For ye shall speake into the ayer.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    so also ye, if through the tongue, speech easily understood ye may not give -- how shall that which is spoken be known? for ye shall be speaking to air.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    So if you, in using a strange tongue, say words which have no sense, how will anyone take in what you are saying? for you will be talking to the air.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Cor 9:26 : 26 Therefore, I run with purpose in every step; I fight not like someone beating the air.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • 1 Cor 14:10-24
    15 verses
    84%

    10 There are so many kinds of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

    11 If I do not understand the meaning of what someone is saying, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

    12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

    13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

    14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

    15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

    16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can someone who is in the position of an outsider say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?

    17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.

    18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

    19 But in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

    20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in regard to evil, but in your thinking be mature.

    21 In the Law it is written: 'By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,' says the Lord.

    22 Thus, tongues are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign, not for unbelievers but for believers.

    23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

    24 But if everyone is prophesying and an unbeliever or uninitiated person enters, they are convicted of sin by all and are examined by all.

  • 1 Cor 14:1-8
    8 verses
    81%

    1 Pursue love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

    2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands; they speak mysteries by the Spirit.

    3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.

    4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up themselves, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

    5 I wish that all of you spoke in tongues, but I would rather you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless they interpret so that the church may be built up.

    6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what good will I be to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

    7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or harp, if they do not produce a clear distinction in the notes, how will anyone recognize what is played on the flute or the harp?

    8 For if the trumpet gives an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?

  • 1 Cor 14:26-28
    3 verses
    77%

    26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

    27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret.

    28 But if there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep silent in the church and speak to themselves and to God.

  • 1 Cor 14:38-40
    3 verses
    75%

    38 But if anyone ignores this, let them remain ignorant.

    39 So then, brothers and sisters, eagerly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

    40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

  • Isa 28:11
    74%

    11 Indeed, with stammering lips and another tongue, He will speak to this people.

  • 1 Cor 13:1
    72%

    1 If I speak in the tongues of people and of angels, but do not have love, I am like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

  • Matt 10:19-20
    2 verses
    71%

    19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you should say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time.

    20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

  • Ps 19:3
    70%

    3 Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they reveal knowledge.

  • 1 Cor 12:1
    70%

    1 Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware.

  • 1 Cor 2:13
    70%

    13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit—explaining spiritual truths to spiritual people.

  • Mark 13:11
    69%

    11 When you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

  • Rom 10:14
    69%

    14 How then can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching?

  • 1 Cor 14:31
    69%

    31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and be encouraged.

  • Ezek 3:6
    69%

    6 You are not sent to many peoples with unintelligible speech or difficult tongues whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.

  • Acts 2:8
    69%

    8 How is it that each of us hears them in our native language where we were born?

  • 1 Cor 12:30
    69%

    30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

  • 1 Cor 14:36
    68%

    36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

  • Rom 15:21
    68%

    21 Rather, as it is written: 'Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.'

  • 1 Cor 12:10
    68%

    10 to another, miraculous powers; to another, prophecy; to another, distinguishing between spirits; to another, different kinds of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues.

  • 1 Cor 12:17
    68%

    17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

  • Acts 2:12
    68%

    12 They were all amazed and perplexed, asking one another, 'What does this mean?'

  • Acts 2:6
    68%

    6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment because each one heard them speaking in their own language.

  • Job 37:20
    68%

    20 Should it be told to Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?

  • Isa 33:19
    68%

    19 You will no longer see the arrogant people, a people of obscure speech you cannot understand, of stammering tongue that you cannot comprehend.

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