1COR 14:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) because anyone speaking another language isn’t speaking to the people, but to God, because no one understands it, but they’re speaking about spiritual mysteries.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but he speaks mysteries in spirit.

UST You should desire this because people who talk in unknown languages are talking with God, not with other people. This is because no one knows what they are saying. Rather, they say secret things as the Holy Spirit empowers them.

BSB 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.

BLB For the one speaking in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God. For no one hears, but in the Spirit he utters mysteries.

AICNT For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands, but in the spirit one speaks mysteries.

OEB The person who, when speaking, uses the gift of “tongues” is speaking, not to people, but to God, for no one understands them; yet in spirit they are speaking of hidden truths.

WEBBE For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.

LSV for he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue—he does not speak to men, but to God, for no one listens, and he speaks secrets in spirit;

FBV Those who speak in a tongue[fn] are not talking to people, but to God, because nobody can understand them as they speak mysteries in the Spirit.

14:2 This is clearly not the use of normal human language. There is much debate over this phenomenon. Clearly the early church was gifted with the ability to speak and be understood in different human languages as Acts 2 makes clear. However, some kind of “ecstatic utterance” appears to be in view here. Its practice in Corinth was being abused, and so Paul has to counteract the problem here.

TCNT For he who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

T4T I say that because those who speak messages that come directly from God are speaking in languages that they and the other believers in the congregation know, and so they are able to strengthen them spiritually and to encourage and comfort them. But those who speak in languages [MTY] that they have not learned are not speaking to people. Instead, they are only speaking to God. No one understands them. By the power/guidance of God’s Spirit (OR, From within their own spirit) they speak things that others do not know.

LEB For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands, but by the Spirit[fn] he speaks mysteries.

14:2 Or “in the Spirit”; or “in his spirit”

BBE For he who makes use of tongues is not talking to men but to God; because no one has the sense of what he is saying; but in the Spirit he is talking of secret things.

Moff No Moff 1COR book available

Wymth For he who speaks in an unknown tongue is not speaking to men, but to God; for no one understands him. Yet in the Spirit he is speaking secret truths.

ASV For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

DRA For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.

YLT for he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue — to men he doth not speak, but to God, for no one doth hearken, and in spirit he doth speak secrets;

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

14.2 Elohim

RV For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Wbstr For he that speaketh in an unknown language, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no man understandeth him ; yet in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

KJB-1769 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
(For he that speaketh/speaks in an unknown tongue speaketh/speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh/speaks mysteries. )

KJB-1611 [fn]For he that speaketh in an vnknowen tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man vnderstandeth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
(For he that speaketh/speaks in an unknown tongue, speaketh/speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh/speaks mysteries.)

14:2 Gr. heareth

Bshps For he that speaketh with the tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: For no man heareth hym. Howbeit, in the spirite he speaketh misteries.
(For he that speaketh/speaks with the tongue, speaketh/speaks not unto men, but unto God: For no man hears him. Howbeit, in the spirit he speaketh/speaks misteries.)

Gnva For hee that speaketh a strange tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man heareth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh secret things.
(For he that speaketh/speaks a strange tongue, speaketh/speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man hears him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh/speaks secret things. )

Cvdl For he yt speaketh with tunges, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man heareth him. Howbeit in ye sprete he speaketh misteries.
(For he it speaketh/speaks with tongues, speaketh/speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man hears him. Howbeit in ye/you_all spirit he speaketh/speaks misteries.)

TNT For he that speaketh with toges speaketh not vnto men but vnto god for no man heareth him how be it in the sprete he speaketh misteries.
(For he that speaketh/speaks with tongues speaketh/speaks not unto men but unto god for no man hears him how be it in the spirit he speaketh/speaks misteries. )

Wyc And he that spekith in tunge, spekith not to men, but to God; for no man herith. But the spirit spekith mysteries.
(And he that speaketh/speaks in tunge, speaketh/speaks not to men, but to God; for no man hears. But the spirit speaketh/speaks mysteries.)

Luth Denn der mit der Zunge redet, der redet nicht den Menschen, sondern GOtt. Denn ihm höret niemand zu; im Geist aber redet er die Geheimnisse.
(Because the/of_the with the/of_the Zunge redet, the/of_the talks not the Menschen, rather God. Because him listent no_one zu; in_the spirit but talks he the Geheimnisse.)

ClVg Qui enim loquitur lingua, non hominibus loquitur, sed Deo: nemo enim audit. Spiritu autem loquitur mysteria.[fn]
(Who because loquitur lingua, not/no hominibus loquitur, but Deo: nemo because audit. Spiritu however loquitur mysteria. )

14.2 Qui enim loquitur lingua, etc. Hoc autem fiebat quando lingua loquens se non intelligebat, ut si quis alicujus linguæ prolationem et non significationem sciret

14.2 Who because loquitur lingua, etc. This however fiebat when lingua loquens se not/no intelligebat, as when/but_if who/any alicuyus linguæ prolationem and not/no significationem sciret

UGNT ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ, οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ Θεῷ; οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια.
(ho gar lalōn glōssaʸ, ouk anthrōpois lalei, alla Theōi; oudeis gar akouei, pneumati de lalei mustaʸria.)

SBL-GNT ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ ⸀ἀλλὰ θεῷ, οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια·
(ho gar lalōn glōssaʸ ouk anthrōpois lalei ⸀alla theōi, oudeis gar akouei, pneumati de lalei mustaʸria;)

TC-GNT Ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ [fn]τῷ Θεῷ· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια.
(Ho gar lalōn glōssaʸ ouk anthrōpois lalei, alla tōi Theōi; oudeis gar akouei, pneumati de lalei mustaʸria. )

14:2 τω ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

for

Here, For introduces the reasons why Paul wants the Corinthians to especially desire to prophesy. These reasons are found in 14:2–4. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express For with a comparable way to introduce reasons for a claim. Alternate translation: “Here is why you should be zealous for prophecy:”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ὁ & λαλῶν γλώσσῃ

the_‹one› & speaking ˱with˲_/a/_tongue

Paul is speaking of people “speaking in tongues” in general; he is not speaking of one particular person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form with a form that refers to people in general. Alternate translation: “anyone who speaks in a tongue”

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

γλώσσῃ

˱with˲_/a/_tongue

Here and throughout this chapter, translate tongue and “tongues” as you did in 13:1, 8.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀνθρώποις & δὲ λαλεῖ

˱to˲_people & but ˱he˲_/is/_speaking

Although the words men and he are masculine, Paul is using them to refer to anyone, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: “to humans … but he or she speaks”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μυστήρια

mysteries

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind mysteries, you can express the idea by using an adjective such as “secret” or “mysterious.” Alternate translation: “mysterious words”

πνεύματι

˱in˲_spirit

Here, spirit could refer to: (1) the Holy Spirit, which enables or empowers the person to speak in the tongue. Alternate translation: “in God’s Spirit” or “by the power of God’s Spirit” (2) the person’s spirit, which refers to the interior life of a person. It is from this interior life that the tongue originates. Alternate translation: “in his spirit”

Parallel 1COR 14:2