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1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:2 KJV (With Strong’s)

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2
For
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
he that
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
speaketh
laleo (Greek #2980)
to talk, i.e. utter words
KJV usage: preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare 3004.
Pronounce: lal-eh'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb
in an
glossa (Greek #1100)
the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired)
KJV usage: tongue.
Pronounce: gloce-sah'
Origin: of uncertain affinity
unknown tongue
glossa (Greek #1100)
the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired)
KJV usage: tongue.
Pronounce: gloce-sah'
Origin: of uncertain affinity
a speaketh
laleo (Greek #2980)
to talk, i.e. utter words
KJV usage: preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare 3004.
Pronounce: lal-eh'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb
not
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
KJV usage: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
Pronounce: oo
Origin: οὐκ (ook), and (before an aspirate) οὐχ (ookh) a primary word
unto men
anthropos (Greek #444)
man-faced, i.e. a human being
KJV usage: certain, man.
Pronounce: anth'-ro-pos
Origin: from 435 and ὤψ (the countenance; from 3700)
, but
alla (Greek #235)
properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
KJV usage: and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
Pronounce: al-lah'
Origin: neuter plural of 243
unto God
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
theos (Greek #2316)
a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
KJV usage: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
Pronounce: theh'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
: for
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
no
oudeis (Greek #3762)
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing
KJV usage: any (man), aught, man, neither any (thing), never (man), no (man), none (+ of these things), not (any, at all, -thing), nought.
Pronounce: oo-dice'
Origin: οὐδεμία (oo-dem-ee'-ah), and neuter οὐδέν (oo-den') from 3761 and 1520
b man πunderstandeth
akouo (Greek #191)
to hear (in various senses)
KJV usage: give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
Pronounce: ak-oo'-o
Origin: a primary verb
him; howbeit
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
in the spirit
pneuma (Greek #4151)
a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit
KJV usage: ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind. Compare 5590.
Pronounce: pnyoo'-mah
Origin: from 4154
he speaketh
laleo (Greek #2980)
to talk, i.e. utter words
KJV usage: preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare 3004.
Pronounce: lal-eh'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb
mysteries
musterion (Greek #3466)
a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites)
KJV usage: mystery.
Pronounce: moos-tay'-ree-on
Origin: from a derivative of μύω (to shut the mouth)
.
a
Acts 10:46• 46for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, (Acts 10:46)
b
Acts 22:9• 9But they that were with me beheld the light, and were filled with fear, but heard not the voice of him that was speaking to me. (Acts 22:9)
π
heareth.

More on:

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God,
mystery,
Spirit,
Tongues

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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he that.
1 Cor. 14:9‑11,16,21‑22• 9Thus also *ye* with the tongue, unless ye give a distinct speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking to the air.
 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of undistinguishable sound.
 11If therefore I do not know the power of the sound, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks a barbarian for me.
 16Since otherwise, if thou blessest with the spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the simple Christian say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, since he does not know what thou sayest?
 21It is written in the law, By people of other tongues, and by strange lips, will I speak to this people; and neither thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.
 22So that tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but prophecy, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe. (1 Cor. 14:9‑11,16,21‑22)
;
Gen. 11:7• 7Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. (Gen. 11:7)
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Gen. 42:23• 23And they did not know that Joseph understood, for the interpreter was between them. (Gen. 42:23)
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Deut. 28:49• 49Jehovah will bring a nation against thee from afar, from the end of the earth, like as the eagle flieth, a nation whose tongue thou understandest not; (Deut. 28:49)
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2 Kings 18:26• 26And Eliakim the son of Hilkijah, and Shebnah and Joah said to Rab-shakeh, Speak, we pray thee, to thy servants in Syriac, for we understand it, and talk not with us in the Jewish language in the ears of the people that are on the wall. (2 Kings 18:26)
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Acts 2:4‑11• 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave to them to speak forth.
 5Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, pious men, from every nation of those under heaven.
 6But the rumour of this having spread, the multitude came together and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect.
 7And all were amazed and wondered, saying, Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galilaeans?
 8and how do *we* hear them each in our own dialect in which we have been born,
 9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judaea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
 10both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya which adjoin Cyrene, and the Romans sojourning here, both Jews and proselytes,
 11Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our own tongues the great things of God? (Acts 2:4‑11)
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Acts 10:46• 46for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, (Acts 10:46)
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Acts 19:6• 6And Paul having laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6)
understandeth.
Gr. heareth.
Acts 22:9• 9But they that were with me beheld the light, and were filled with fear, but heard not the voice of him that was speaking to me. (Acts 22:9)
howbeit.
1 Cor. 2:7,10• 7But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, that hidden wisdom which God had predetermined before the ages for our glory:
 10but God has revealed to us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. (1 Cor. 2:7,10)
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1 Cor. 13:2• 2And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Cor. 13:2)
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1 Cor. 15:51• 51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Cor. 15:51)
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Psa. 49:3‑4• 3My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:
 4I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp. (Psa. 49:3‑4)
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Psa. 78:2• 2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter riddles from of old, (Psa. 78:2)
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Matt. 13:11• 11And he answering said to them, Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it is not given; (Matt. 13:11)
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Mark 4:11• 11And he said to them, To you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables, (Mark 4:11)
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Rom. 16:25• 25Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my glad tidings and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, as to which silence has been kept in the times of the ages, (Rom. 16:25)
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Eph. 3:3‑9• 3that by revelation the mystery has been made known to me, (according as I have written before briefly,
 4by which, in reading it, ye can understand my intelligence in the mystery of the Christ,)
 5which in other generations has not been made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the power of the Spirit,
 6that they who are of the nations should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus by the glad tidings;
 7of which I am become minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me, according to the working of his power.
 8To me, less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ,
 9and to enlighten all with the knowledge of what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things, (Eph. 3:3‑9)
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Eph. 6:19• 19and for me in order that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the glad tidings, (Eph. 6:19)
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Col. 1:26‑27• 26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been made manifest to his saints;
 27to whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory: (Col. 1:26‑27)
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Col. 2:2• 2to the end that their hearts may be encouraged, being united together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of God; (Col. 2:2)
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1 Tim. 3:9,16• 9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
 16And confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in the Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among the nations, has been believed on in the world, has been received up in glory. (1 Tim. 3:9,16)
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Rev. 10:7• 7but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God also shall be completed, as he has made known the glad tidings to his own bondmen the prophets. (Rev. 10:7)
• “Unknown tongue” conveys the wrong thought, as those of another tongue could understand their own language. (“Help on Hard Verses” by A.C. Brown)
• No doubt those who spoke in a tongue argued that they stood for the rights of Christ, who was glorified in the gift, and that theirs was the divine side—they spoke to God. But the Apostle boldly maintains that the lack of speaking to men demonstrates the inferiority of speaking in a tongue to prophesying. (“Notes on 1 Corinthians 14:1-12” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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2
For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men but to God: for no one hears; but in spirit he speaks mysteries.

W. Kelly Translation

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2
For he that speaketh in a tonguea speaketh not to men but to God; for no one heareth; yet in spirit he speaketh mysteries.

WK Translation Notes

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a
The word "unknown" is an interpolation here and in verses 4, 13, 19, 27.