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1 Corinthians 14:22

20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

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.”

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

23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
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.
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.
ASV
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying [is for a sign], not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.
DARBY
So that tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but prophecy, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe.
BLB
So then, tongues are for a sign, not to the believing, but to the unbelieving; but prophecy [is] not to the unbelieving, but to the believing.
ÅB
Så er da tungene til et tegn, ikke for de troende, men for de vantro; den profetiske tale derimot er ikke for de vantro, men for de troende.
OTB
Så er tunger et tegn, ikke for dem som tror, men for vantro; men profeti er ikke for vantro, men for dem som tror.
B1930
Så er da tungene til et tegn, ikke for de troende, men for de vantro; den profetiske tale derimot er ikke for de vantro, men for de troende.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Acts 2:6–12

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

    Read in context

  • Mark 16:17

    And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

    Read in context

  • 1 Timothy 1:9

    We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,

    Read in context

  • 1 Corinthians 14:1

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

    Read in context

  • Acts 2:32–36

    God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

    Read in context