1 Corinthians 14 10

1 Corinthians 14:10 kjv

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

1 Corinthians 14:10 nkjv

There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.

1 Corinthians 14:10 niv

Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

1 Corinthians 14:10 esv

There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

1 Corinthians 14:10 nlt

There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.

1 Corinthians 14 verses

1 Corinthians 14 10 Meaning

1 Corinthians 14:10 conveys that throughout the world, there are countless varieties of languages, and a fundamental characteristic of every legitimate language is its inherent ability to convey meaning. Paul uses this universally observable truth as a foundational premise to argue for the necessity of intelligibility and understanding in the public worship of the church, especially concerning the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. He establishes that mere sound, without decipherable content for the hearer, serves no edifying purpose in a communal setting.

1 Corinthians 14 10 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 14 is part of a larger discussion (chapters 12-14) concerning spiritual gifts within the Corinthian church. The city of Corinth was a bustling, cosmopolitan hub where various cultures and religious practices intersected. Within the church, there was disorder and misuse of spiritual gifts, particularly glossolalia (speaking in tongues), which the Corinthians might have valued excessively for its perceived ecstatic or supernatural quality.

Paul's primary concern throughout chapter 14 is the edification of the church (14:3, 4, 12, 26) and the need for order (14:33, 40) in public worship. He prioritizes prophecy over speaking in tongues in the congregational setting because prophecy directly communicates an understandable message that builds up the body, whereas uninterpreted tongues do not. Verse 10 serves as a logical foundation for this argument. By stating that all languages in the world inherently convey meaning, Paul implicitly questions the value of sounds or utterances that—though perhaps supernaturally generated—do not transmit understandable meaning to the listeners in the church, thereby failing the core purpose of language in that specific context. This also sets up a direct polemic against any perception that chaotic or unintelligible utterances were a sign of greater spirituality or divine presence, rather than order and understanding.

1 Corinthians 14 10 Word analysis

• There are, perhaps, many kinds of languages in the world (πολλὰ γένη φωνῶν ἐστιν ἐν κόσμῳ, polla genē phōnōn estin en kosmō)

  • πολλὰ (polla): Meaning "many," "much," or "numerous." It emphasizes the vast diversity and abundance of linguistic forms that exist.
  • γένη (genē): The plural of genos, meaning "kinds," "forms," "types," or "races." Here, it specifically denotes different categories or families of speech. Paul acknowledges the global array of human communication systems.
  • φωνῶν (phōnōn): The genitive plural of phōnē, which can mean "voice," "sound," "tone," or "language." In this context, given "kinds" (genē) and "in the world," it refers distinctly to "languages" or "dialects." It signifies a structured system of sound intended for communication, not just random noise.
  • ἐστιν (estin): "there are" or "exist." A simple statement of observable fact.
  • ἐν κόσμῳ (en kosmō): "in the world" or "in the universe." This indicates the global scope of Paul's observation, making his premise universally applicable and relatable to his audience. It highlights that the principle he is about to state applies everywhere.

• and no kind is without meaning. (καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῶν ἄφωνον. kai ouden autōn áphōnon)

  • καὶ (kai): "and." Connects the observation to the concluding principle.
  • οὐδὲν (ouden): "nothing," "not one," "none." This is a strong, emphatic negative, underscoring the universal truth of the following statement.
  • αὐτῶν (autōn): "of them." Refers back to the "many kinds of languages" previously mentioned.
  • ἄφωνον (áphōnon): The most critical word in the verse, meaning "voiceless," "mute," "unmeaning," or "without meaning/sense." It is formed from the privative alpha prefix (a- meaning "without") and phōnē ("voice" or "sound/meaning"). This word signifies a complete lack of discernible sense or ability to convey understanding. Paul argues that genuine languages, by definition, inherently possess and convey meaning; they are never just empty sounds.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "There are, perhaps, many kinds of languages in the world": This phrase establishes a common, undeniable empirical truth. Paul sets up his argument by referencing the observable diversity of human languages across the globe. The "perhaps" (implied, not explicit in Greek as per some translations like KJV's "there are") softens the tone slightly, or perhaps reflects Paul's rhetorical acknowledgement that he's not exhaustive, but rather pointing to a general, self-evident truth about the vastness of linguistic diversity.
  • "and no kind is without meaning.": This is the critical second half of the statement, presenting the core logical premise. It asserts that an intrinsic characteristic of any legitimate language is its capacity to transmit understandable meaning. If a set of sounds purports to be a "language" but lacks this capacity for those it is directed toward, it falls short of this universal standard in the context of communal communication. This principle directly challenges the value of uninterpreted tongues in a public setting.

1 Corinthians 14 10 Bonus section

• Pragmatic, Not Prescriptive on Nature of Tongues: Paul is making a pragmatic argument based on the effect of a language on the hearer in a communal setting, not necessarily making a definitive theological statement on whether all individual instances of tongues-speaking are inherently human languages. The point is about their functionality for the assembly.
• Contrast to Pagan Practices: In the ancient world, pagan religious practices often involved ecstatic utterances that were incomprehensible. Paul is distinguishing Christian spiritual expressions, arguing that even supernaturally endowed communication must serve God's orderly and edifying purposes.
• Foundational to Intelligibility Argument: This verse is a key premise for Paul's insistence in the following verses (14:11, 14:13, 14:16-19) that what is spoken in church must be understood. It underpins the entire rationale for the superiority of prophecy over uninterpreted tongues and the necessity of an interpreter.
• The Listener's Perspective: The focus of "without meaning" is from the perspective of the listeners in the congregation. If no one present can discern its message, then for practical purposes of edification, it is without meaning to them, regardless of whether it conveys a meaning to God or a speaker's spirit.

1 Corinthians 14 10 Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:10 acts as a pivotal logical statement within Paul's discourse on spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church. By asserting that every distinct human language worldwide fundamentally possesses and conveys meaning, Paul lays down an undeniable principle: the purpose of language is to communicate. He uses this common-sense observation to highlight why unintelligible speech, specifically uninterpreted tongues in a communal worship setting, fails to edify the congregation.

This verse is not diminishing the spiritual gift of tongues in private devotion, but rather examining its role and effectiveness within the assembly. If the primary function of language is to convey understandable thoughts and information, then any linguistic expression, even one supernaturally inspired, that does not serve this communicative purpose for the hearers, does not contribute to the church's collective growth. Paul's emphasis on meaning (or the lack thereof from the hearer's perspective in the absence of interpretation) underscores God's nature as a God of order and clarity, not confusion (1 Cor 14:33). For worship to be rational and to build up the body of Christ, it must involve the mind and lead to understanding.

This verse practically implies that in all our church interactions—preaching, teaching, praying, and even testifying—the pursuit of clear, understandable communication for the edification of fellow believers should be paramount. We should always strive to speak in a way that contributes to shared understanding and spiritual growth.