1 Corinthians 14:2

KJV1611 – Modern English

For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no man understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῶ Θεῷ: οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει· πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια.

Transliteration

The gar lalōn glōssē not to-anthrōpois lalei, alla to-the Theō: oudeis gar akouei; pneumati de lalei mystēria.

Grammar Details

• *gar*: postpositive conjunction - for/because [explanatory]
• *lalōn*: present participle, nominative, masculine, singular - speaking/one who speaks
• *glōssē*: dative, feminine, singular - with/in tongue/language
• *anthrōpois*: dative, masculine, plural - to men/humans
• *lalei*: present indicative, 3rd singular - speaks/is speaking
• *alla*: strong adversative conjunction - but/rather/on the contrary
• *Theō*: dative, masculine, singular - to God
• *oudeis*: nominative, masculine, singular - no one/nobody
• *akouei*: present indicative, 3rd singular - hears/understands
• *pneumati*: dative, neuter, singular - by/with spirit/the Spirit
• *mystēria*: accusative, neuter, plural - mysteries/secret things

Word Meanings

• *lalōn*: speaking/uttering/talking
• *glōssē*: tongue/language [possibly supernatural language]
• *anthrōpois*: men/human beings/people
• *Theō*: God/deity
• *akouei*: hears/listens to/understands
• *pneumati*: spirit/the Spirit/spiritual means/inner being
• *mystēria*: mysteries/hidden truths/secrets/things formerly unknown

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  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.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For{G1063} he that speaketh{G2980} in a tongue{G1100} speaketh{G2980} not{G3756} unto men,{G444} but{G235} unto God;{G2316} for{G1063} no man{G3762} understandeth;{G191} but{G1161} in the spirit{G4151} he speaketh{G2980} mysteries.{G3466}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For{G1063} he that speaketh{G2980}{(G5723)} in an unknown tongue{G1100} speaketh{G2980}{(G5719)} not{G3756} unto men{G444}, but{G235} unto God{G2316}: for{G1063} no man{G3762} understandeth{G191}{(G5719)} him; howbeit{G1161} in the spirit{G4151} he speaketh{G2980}{(G5719)} mysteries{G3466}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For he that speaketh with toges speaketh not vnto men but vnto god for no man heareth him how be it in the sprete he speaketh misteries.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For he yt speaketh with tunges, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man heareth him. Howbeit in ye sprete he speaketh misteries.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For hee that speaketh a strange tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man heareth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh secret things.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For he that speaketh with the tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: For no man heareth hym. Howbeit, in the spirite he speaketh misteries.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  for he who is speaking in an `unknown' tongue -- to men he doth not speak, but to God, for no one doth hearken, and in spirit he doth speak secrets;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For 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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Cor 13:2 : 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
• Acts 10:46 : 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
• Acts 19:6 : 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
• Mark 16:17 : 17 And these signs shall follow those who believe: In my name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
• Acts 2:4-9 : 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, 'Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans?' 8 How is it that we hear each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
• 1 Cor 15:51 : 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
• Eph 3:3-9 : 3 How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery; (as I have written briefly already, 4 By which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
• Eph 6:19 : 19 And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
• Col 1:26-27 : 26 Even the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
• Col 2:2 : 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
• 1 Tim 3:9 : 9 Holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
• 1 Tim 3:16 : 16 And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
• Rev 10:7 : 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he declared to his servants the prophets.
• Acts 22:9 : 9 And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of him who spoke to me.
• Rom 16:25 : 25 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret since the world began,
• 1 Cor 2:7 : 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
• 1 Cor 2:10 : 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
• 1 Cor 14:9-9 : 9 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. 10 There are, perhaps, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks shall be a foreigner to me.
• 1 Cor 14:16 : 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say?
• 1 Cor 14:18-23 : 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 Yet in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be infants, but in understanding be mature. 21 In the law it is written: With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people, and yet for all that they will not hear me, says the Lord. 22 Therefore, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who do not believe; but prophesying is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23 Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad?
• Gen 11:7 : 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
• Gen 42:23 : 23 And they did not know that Joseph understood them; for he spoke to them by an interpreter.
• Deut 28:49 : 49 The LORD shall bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies; a nation whose language you shall not understand;
• Ps 49:3-4 : 3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
• Ps 78:2 : 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
• Matt 13:11 : 11 He replied, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
• Mark 4:11 : 11 And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
• 2 Kgs 18:26 : 26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to Rabshakeh, Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it, and do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.
• 1 Cor 14:27-28 : 27 If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two or at the most by three, and each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.