1 Corinthians 14:2

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1 Corinthians 14:1–4 · Berean Standard Bible

1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

1 Corinthians 14:9

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 14:10

Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

1 Corinthians 14:11

If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.

1 Corinthians 14:16

Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

1 Corinthians 14:21

It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 14:22

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

Genesis 11:7

Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”

Genesis 42:23

They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.

Deuteronomy 28:49

The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,

2 Kings 18:26

Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:5

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:6

And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.

Acts 2:7

Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

Acts 2:8

How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Acts 2:9

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

Acts 2:10

Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,

Acts 2:11

both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

Acts 10:46

For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,

Acts 19:6

And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Acts 22:9

My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.

1 Corinthians 2:7

No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

1 Corinthians 2:10

But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 13:2

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 15:51

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

Psalms 49:3

My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

Psalms 49:4

I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:

Psalms 78:2

I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,

Matthew 13:11

He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Mark 4:11

He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

Romans 16:25

Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past

Ephesians 3:3

that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

Ephesians 3:4

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Ephesians 3:5

which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

Ephesians 3:6

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:7

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.

Ephesians 3:8

Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Ephesians 3:9

and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Ephesians 6:19

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 1:26

the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.

Colossians 1:27

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 2:2

that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,

1 Timothy 3:9

They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 3:16

By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.

Revelation 10:7

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.”