1 Corinthians 14 · Verse 9

1 Corinthians 14:9

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.
1 Corinthians 14:9, King James Version

1 Corinthians 14:9 in other translations

BSBSo it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
WEBSo 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.
ASVSo also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.
YLTso also ye, if through the tongue, speech easily understood ye may not give--how shall that which is spoken be known? for ye shall be speaking to air.
DARBYThus also ye with the tongue, unless ye give a distinct speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking to the air.
BBESo if you, in using a strange tongue, say words which have no sense, how will anyone take in what you are saying? for you will be talking to the air.
WebsterSo likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will speak into the air.

What does 1 Corinthians 14:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. So ... ye--who have life; as opposed to "things without life" (1Co 14:7). by the tongue--the language which ye speak in. ye shall speak--Ye will be speaking into the air, that is, in vain (1Co 9:26).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. So likewise ye, etc. To apply the case. If you use a foreign language, how shall it be known what is said, or of what use will it be, unless it is made intelligible by interpretation?

Utter by the tongue. Unless you speak.

Words easy to be understood. Significant words, (margin;) words to which your auditors are accustomed.

For ye shall speak into the air. You will not speak so as to be understood; and it will be just the same as if no one was present, and you spoke to the air. We have a proverb that resembles this: "You may as well speak to the winds; that is, you speak where it would not be understood, or where the words would have no effect. It may be observed here, that the practice of the papists accords with what the apostle here condemns, where worship is conducted in a language not understood by the people; and that there is much of this same kind of speaking now, where unintelligible terms are used, or words are employed that are above the comprehension of the people; or where doctrines are discussed which are unintelligible, and which are regarded by them without interest. All preaching should be plain, simple, perspicuous, and adapted to the capacity of the hearers.

(1) "words easy to be understood" "significant"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Likewise ye - If ye do not speak in the Church so as to be understood, your labor is useless; ye shall speak into the air - your speech will be lost and dissipated in the air, without conveying any meaning to any person: there will be a noise or sound, but nothing else. Gifts of that kind, thus used, are good for nothing.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:6-14

Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hear them, is but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 14:6-14 →

1 Corinthians 14:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὕτωςhoutōsSoG3779
καὶkaialsoG2532
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
διὰdiawithG1223
τῆςtēstheG3588
γλώσσηςglōssēstongueG1100
ἐὰνeanonlyG1437
μὴmēunlessG3361
εὔσημονeusēmonintelligibleG2154
λόγονlogonspeechG3056
δῶτε,dōteyou shall give,G1325
πῶςpōshowG4459
γνωσθήσεταιgnōsthēsetaiwill it be knownG1097
τὸtowhat [is]G3588
λαλούμενον;laloumenonbeing spoken?G2980
ἔσεσθεesestheYou will beG1510
γὰρgarforG1063
εἰςeisintoG1519
ἀέραaera[the] airG109
λαλοῦντες.lalountesspeaking.G2980

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 14:9

  • 1 Corinthians 9:26

    I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
easy. Gr. significant.
19
for.
9:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 14:8

    For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

  • 1 Corinthians 14:9

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:10

    There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así también vosotros, si por la lengua no diereis palabra bien significante, ¿cómo se entenderá lo que se dice? porque hablaréis al aire.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		De même aussi vous, avec une langue, si vous ne prononcez pas un discours intelligible, comment saura-t-on ce qui est dit, car vous parlerez en l’air?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Also auch ihr, wenn ihr durch die Sprache nicht eine verständliche Rede gebet, wie wird man wissen, was geredet wird? denn ihr werdet in den Wind reden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ita et vos per linguam nisi manifestum sermonem dederitis: quomodo scietur id quod dicitur? eritis enim in aëra loquentes.