1 Corinthians 14:9
New International Version
So 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.

New Living Translation
It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.

English Standard Version
So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.

Berean Standard Bible
So 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.

Berean Literal Bible
So also you, unless you give intelligible speech with the tongue, how will it be known what is being spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

New American Standard Bible
So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air.

NASB 1995
So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

NASB 1977
So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

Legacy Standard Bible
So also you, unless you utter by the tongue a word that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

Amplified Bible
So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligible and clear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]!

Christian Standard Bible
In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.

American Standard Version
So 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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
So you also, if you will say words in languages and you will not translate, how will anything be known that you say, for you yourselves will be as one who is speaking to the air.

Contemporary English Version
This is how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said ? For you shall be speaking into the air.

English Revised Version
So 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the same way, if you don't speak in a way that can be understood, how will anyone know what you're saying? You will be talking into thin air.

Good News Translation
In the same way, how will anyone understand what you are talking about if your message given in strange tongues is not clear? Your words will vanish in the air!

International Standard Version
In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You'll be talking into the air!

Literal Standard Version
So also you, if you may not give speech easily understood through the tongue—how will that which is spoken be known? For you will be speaking to air.

Majority Standard Bible
So 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.

New American Bible
Similarly, if you, because of speaking in tongues, do not utter intelligible speech, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be talking to the air.

NET Bible
It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

New Revised Standard Version
So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
So 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.

Weymouth New Testament
And so with you; if with the living voice you fail to utter intelligible words, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the winds.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
so 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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Prophecy and Tongues
8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? 9So 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. 10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 9:26
Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

1 Corinthians 14:10
Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.


Treasury of Scripture

So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.

easy.

1 Corinthians 14:19
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

for.

1 Corinthians 9:26
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

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Air Clear Distinct Easy Except Fail Intelligible Likewise Sense Speak Speaking Speech Strange Talking Tongue Understand Understood Unless Using Utter Uttered Voice Winds Words Yourselves
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Air Clear Distinct Easy Except Fail Intelligible Likewise Sense Speak Speaking Speech Strange Talking Tongue Understand Understood Unless Using Utter Uttered Voice Winds Words Yourselves
1 Corinthians 14
1. Prophecy is commended,
2. and preferred before speaking in tongues,
6. by a comparison drawn from musical instruments.
12. Both must be referred to edification,
22. as to their true and proper end.
26. The true use of each is taught,
27. and the abuse rebuked.
34. Women in the churches.














(9) So likewise ye.--This is not the application of the foregoing, but the introduction of a third illustration, viz., the varieties of human language. The "tongue" here is simply the actual organ of speech, distinguished in the Greek, by the insertion of the article, from "tongues" which flow from the spiritual gift. If a human being does not use words that those spoken to understand, it is useless; such words pass as sounds into the air and are useless.

Verse 9. - Words easy to be understood; rather, distinguishable speech. Ye shall speak; rather, ye shall be (all the time) speaking. Into the air. Mere pulses of useless inarticulate breath, spoken ins Blaue hinein. Philo has the word aeromuthos one who speaks to the wind.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

[it is]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

with you.
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

Unless
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

you speak
δῶτε (dōte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

intelligible
εὔσημον (eusēmon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2154: From eu and the base of semaino; well indicated, i.e. significant.

words
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

with
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

[your]
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

tongue,
γλώσσης (glōssēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1100: The tongue; by implication, a language.

how
πῶς (pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

will [anyone] know
γνωσθήσεται (gnōsthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

what
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

you are saying?
λαλούμενον (laloumenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

You will [ just ] be
ἔσεσθε (esesthe)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

speaking
λαλοῦντες (lalountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

[the] air.
ἀέρα (aera)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 109: Air, the lower air we breathe. From aemi; 'air'.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 14:9 So also you unless you uttered (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 14:8
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