📖WEB · 1 Corinthians 14:11
What does 1 Corinthians 14:11 mean?
"If then I don’t know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me."
— 1 Corinthians 14:11 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
If then I don’t know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
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