Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
- KJV Wherefore 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.
- BSB Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
- NASB So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.
- NLT So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Tongues are a sign for unbelievers, while prophecy benefits believers. Each gift has its proper function and audience.
Overview
Drawing on the Isaiah quotation, Paul says tongues serve as a sign directed toward unbelievers, while prophecy edifies believers. The precise sense is debated among faithful interpreters, but in context Paul is correcting the misuse of tongues in worship. The following verses clarify how each gift actually affects believers and outsiders when the church gathers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Acts 2:6–12When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
- Mark 16:17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
- 1 Tim 1:9as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
- Acts 2:32–36This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
- 1 Cor 14:1Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 14:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.