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1 Corinthians 14:21-23 KJV
1 Corinthians · chapter 14 · verses 21–23
21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD. 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?1 Corinthians 14:21-23 · King James Version
1 Corinthians 14:21-23 in context
19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD.
22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 14 →
Commentary
Cross references
Key words (Strong's)
- prophesyingprophēteiaprophecy, a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of…G4394 →
- unbelieversapistosunfaithful, faithless, , incredible, of things, unbelieving, incredulous, without trustG571 →
- unlearnedidiōtēsa private person as opposed to a magistrate, ruler, king, a common soldier, as opposed to…G2399 →
- togethersynerchomaito come together, to assemble, of conjugal cohabitation, to go or come with one, to…G4905 →
- writtengraphōto write, with reference to the form of the letters, to delineate letters on a tablet…G1125 →
- writtenhotithat, because, sinceG3754 →
- tonguesglōssathe tongue, a member of the body, an organ of speech, a tongue, the language or dialect…G1100 →
- believepisteuōto think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in, of the thing…G4100 →
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In this passage the apostle pursues the argument, and reasons from other topics; as, I. Tongues, as the Corinthians used them, were rather a token of judgment from God than mercy to any people (Co1 14:21): In the law (that is, the Old Testament) it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak to…
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 21-25