1 Corinthians 14:21

When the Jews long ago refused to obey God, he warned them about what would happen when he allowed their enemies to punish them. In the Scriptures it is written { the prophet Isaiah wrote} what the Lord God said about that, They didn’t listen to prophets speaking their own language, so I will send people from foreign lands to attack my people. Those foreigners will speak languages that my people do not know [DOU]. In that way, I will warn my people, but they will still not pay attention to what I say.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

In 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.

In Context

20My fellow believers, stop being like little children in the way that you think about these abilities that God’s Spirit gives. Instead, think about them in a mature way. If you really want to be like little children, do as few wicked things as babies do!

22If we speak in languages [MTY] that we have not learned, unbelievers who are there will realize that the Spirit of God is truly among us. That will warn them that they need to fear God. But believers do not need such a warning.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

Cross References

Deuteronomy 28:49“Yahweh will cause an army from very far away [HYP] to attack you, whose soldiers speak a language that you do not know/understand. They will swoop down on you quickly like an eagle [SIM] attacks its prey.

Jeremiah 5:15Listen to this, you people of Israel: I will bring the army of a distant nation to attack you. It is a very powerful nation that has existed for a long time. They speak a language that you do not know and which you will not be able to understand.

Romans 3:19Furthermore, we know that it is to Jewish people, who are required to obey God’s laws, that Moses wrote those laws [PRS]. We can infer from this that there are no Jews or non-Jews [SYN] who are able to say anything in reply to God’s saying that he will punish them for having sinned. God has declared everyone in the world [MTY] guilty!

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 14:16-21

On Spiritual Gifts. ( a. d. 57.) 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 Yet in… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 Corinthians 14:21