1 Corinthians 14:9 kjv
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.
1 Corinthians 14:9 nkjv
So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
1 Corinthians 14:9 niv
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
1 Corinthians 14:9 esv
So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
1 Corinthians 14:9 nlt
It's the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don't understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.
1 Corinthians 14 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 14:2 | For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God... | Need for understanding when speaking. |
| 1 Cor 14:4 | The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. | Prioritizing communal edification. |
| 1 Cor 14:5 | I want every one of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy... | Prophecy (intelligible) is preferred for church. |
| 1 Cor 14:6 | Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you... | Benefit only if words are understandable. |
| 1 Cor 14:11 | If I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker... | Incomprehensibility creates alienation. |
| 1 Cor 14:12 | So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. | Aim for gifts that edify the whole body. |
| 1 Cor 14:15 | I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding... | Spiritual acts should involve the mind. |
| 1 Cor 14:19 | But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words... than ten thousand words in a tongue. | Clarity of communication for edification. |
| 1 Cor 14:23 | So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues... | Unintelligible speech perceived as madness. |
| 14 Cor 14:26 | When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction... | Structure and clarity in church gatherings. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. | God desires order, not chaos, in worship. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. | Guiding principle for all church practices. |
| Rom 12:6 | We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us... | Gifts for practical, effective ministry. |
| Rom 14:19 | Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. | Focus on actions that build others up. |
| Eph 4:12 | to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. | Purpose of gifts is corporate building up. |
| Eph 4:29 | Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up... | Speech should always be constructive. |
| Col 2:5 | For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see your good order... | Orderliness as a sign of spiritual health. |
| Isa 49:4 | But I said, “I have toiled in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all.” | Analogy of futile labor without clear purpose. |
| Ecc 1:14 | I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. | Effort without result is meaningless. |
| John 6:63 | It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. | Importance of intelligible words of truth. |
| Acts 2:6 | And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. | Pentecost tongues were understood, contrasting with Corinth. |
| Neh 8:8 | They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. | Example of clear instruction for understanding. |
1 Corinthians 14 verses
1 Corinthians 14 9 Meaning
The apostle Paul here emphasizes the critical need for intelligibility in communication within the church, particularly regarding spiritual gifts. If words spoken, especially through spiritual gifts like tongues, are not understandable, they fail to convey any meaning or edify the hearers. Such unintelligible speech is likened to "speaking into the air," signifying its utter futility and lack of purpose or beneficial outcome for the audience. The core principle is that communication for edification must be clear and comprehensible.
1 Corinthians 14 9 Context
First Corinthians 14 addresses the use and misuse of spiritual gifts within the church in Corinth. Paul had been addressing their contentious behavior, division, and specific ethical issues in previous chapters. Here, he turns to the improper exercise of charismatic gifts, particularly tongues and prophecy. The Corinthians were seemingly prioritizing ecstatic, unintelligible expressions of tongues, viewing them as a sign of spiritual superiority or enthusiasm. This was leading to disorder and a lack of edification, especially for new believers or visitors. Paul's emphasis in the entire chapter, especially evident in verse 9, is on the primary purpose of all spiritual gifts: the common good and edification of the body of Christ. He sets clear guidelines to ensure that all practices contribute to spiritual growth and order, rather than confusion or chaos. The cultural backdrop of Corinth, a cosmopolitan city with diverse mystery religions often involving ecstatic speech, may have led some believers to integrate such practices uncritically into Christian worship, misunderstanding the true nature and purpose of Spirit-empowered communication.
1 Corinthians 14 9 Word analysis
- So also you (houtōs kai humeis): This phrase draws a direct parallel from the preceding illustrations in verses 7-8, where unintelligible sounds from musical instruments or a war trumpet render them useless. Paul applies the same logical principle to human speech within the assembly, emphasizing consistency.
- unless you utter (ean mē dōte phōnēn): Literally "if you do not give a sound/voice." The Greek word phōnēn (sound, voice) can refer to any audible utterance, highlighting that it's not just any sound, but a meaningful sound that is required. The speaker holds the responsibility for clarity.
- by the tongue (dia tēs glōssēs): Refers to the physical organ of speech, symbolizing human language or dialect. This contrasts with ecstatic, incomprehensible sounds. It underscores that speech for edification must be articulate and linguistic.
- words easy to understand (eusemon logon): A compound Greek word. Eu- means 'well' or 'good', and sēmon means 'mark' or 'sign'. So, literally, 'well-marked' or 'clearly signified words/discourse'. This refers to language that is clear, distinct, and carries discernible meaning to the listener. It is the antithesis of ambiguous or cryptic utterances.
- how will anyone know what is said? (pōs gnōsthēsetai to laloumenon?): This is a rhetorical question that powerfully highlights the futility of unintelligible speech. "To know" (gnōsthēsetai) implies grasping, perceiving, or comprehending the message. If the words cannot be known, their purpose is nullified.
- For you will be speaking into the air (gar eis aera laleite): This is a common Greek idiom meaning to speak to no purpose, to waste effort, or to make an ineffective attempt. It vividly paints a picture of speech dissipating without reaching or impacting anyone, underscoring the absolute uselessness of uninterpreted tongues in a communal setting. The message has no recipient.
1 Corinthians 14 9 Bonus section
The concern for intelligibility articulated in 1 Cor 14:9 is foundational to understanding the New Testament's approach to spiritual gifts. It helps to differentiate the phenomena at Pentecost (Acts 2), where diverse foreign languages were understood by different hearers, from the ecstatic, uninterpreted utterances seemingly prevalent in Corinthian assemblies. While both are called "tongues" (glōssai), Paul's emphasis on interpretation for the latter implies they were not spontaneously understood by all present in the same way the Pentecost event was. The primary concern is always edification, meaning spiritual building up. Gifts are for serving and building up the body of Christ, not for personal display or causing confusion. The sound of spiritual speech is secondary to its sense. This principle echoes throughout the biblical narrative where God’s communication with humanity is consistently clear and purposeful, whether through law, prophecy, or the Word made flesh.
1 Corinthians 14 9 Commentary
1 Corinthians 14:9 distills a fundamental principle for communication in the Christian assembly: for spiritual expressions to be beneficial, they must be intelligible. Paul uses logical parallels, moving from the function of musical instruments to the speech of humans. Just as an unidentifiable tune or an indistinct trumpet call fails to convey its intended message, so too does unclear language fail to minister to the hearers. The essence is that if the audience cannot comprehend what is being said, there can be no instruction, encouragement, or challenge; hence, no edification occurs. The phrase "speaking into the air" acts as a powerful idiomatic dismissal of such efforts, branding them as pointless. This verse is not a condemnation of tongues themselves, but a call for their proper, orderly use, which includes interpretation to ensure understanding, aligning with God's nature as a God of order, not confusion. Practical application includes: prioritizing clarity in teaching, preaching, and prayers within worship services, ensuring new believers or visitors are not alienated by unfamiliar Christian jargon or practices without explanation, and always considering the understanding of the audience as paramount for spiritual growth.