1 Corinthians 14:11
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- KJV
- Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
- WEB
- If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
- ASV
- If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.
- DARBY
- If 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.
- BLB
- Therefore unless I know the power of the voice, I will be a barbarian to the one speaking, and the one speaking, a barbarian to me.
- ÅB
- dersom jeg altså ikke kjenner språkets betydning, blir jeg en utlending for den som taler, og den som taler, blir en utlending for meg.
- OTB
- Så hvis jeg ikke kjenner betydningen av språket, vil jeg være en fremmed for den som taler, og den som taler vil være en fremmed for meg.
- B1930
- dersom jeg altså ikke kjenner sprogets betydning, blir jeg en utlending for den som taler, og den som taler, blir en utlending for mig.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Acts 28:2
And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
Read in contextRomans 1:14
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Read in contextActs 28:4
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Read in context1 Corinthians 14:21
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.
Read in contextColossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Read in context