I Corinthians 14:22 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 14:22 Commentary: Tongues and Prophecy as Signs
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine Paul's contrast between tongues and prophecy, the debated meaning of 'sign', and what this teaches about spiritual gifts in the church.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Tongues are a sign for unbelievers; prophecy is a sign for believers.
- Key words: σημεῖον (sēmeion, sign), πιστεύω (pisteuō, believe), γλῶσσαι (glōssai, tongues), προφητεία (prophēteia, prophecy).
- Main debate: Is the sign of tongues a judgment (like Isaiah's foreign invasion) or an evangelistic attention-getter?
- Theological theme: God's communication design prioritizes understanding and edification over spectacle.
- Best use: Let the purpose of each gift, reaching the lost or building up the saved, guide how and when it is used in corporate worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
so that the tongues are for a sign, not to the believing, but to the unbelieving; and the prophesy is not for the unbelieving, but for the believing,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
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.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers: but prophecies, not to unbelievers but to believers.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Así que, las lenguas por señal son, no á los fieles, sino á los infieles: mas la profecía, no á los infieles, sino á los fieles.
Então as línguas estranhas são por sinal, não para os que creem, mas para os que não creem; e a profecia não é para os que não creem, mas para os que creem.
Par conséquent, les langues sont un signe, non pour les croyants, mais pour les non-croyants; la prophétie, au contraire, est un signe, non pour les non-croyants, mais pour les croyants.
Darum sind die Zungen zum Zeichen nicht den Gläubigen, sondern den Ungläubigen; die Weissagung aber nicht den Ungläubigen, sondern den Gläubigen.
Zo dan, de vreemde talen zijn tot een teken niet dengenen, die geloven, maar den ongelovigen; en de profetie niet den ongelovigen, maar dengenen, die geloven.
Pertanto le lingue servono di segno non per i credenti, ma per i non credenti: la profezia, invece, serve di segno non per i non credenti, ma per i credenti.
Przetoż języki są za cud, nie tym, którzy wierzą, ale niewiernym; a proroctwo nie niewiernym, ale wierzącym.
Итак языки суть знамение не для верующих, а для неверующих; пророчество же не для неверующих, а для верующих.
這樣看來，說方言 不 是 為 信 的人作證據，乃 是為不信的人； 作先知講道 不 是為不信的人作證據，乃 是為信的人。
For this reason tongues are for a sign, not to those who have faith, but to those who have not: but the prophet's word is for those who have faith, and not for the rest who have not.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 14:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse creates a clear contrast: tongues are a sign for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign for believers. Barnes notes that the opening conjunction hōste (“therefore”) draws a general conclusion from the whole discussion, not just from the Isaiah quote that precedes it. Calvin offers two interpretations, one tying the verse tightly to the judgment theme of Isaiah 28, the other applying it broadly to the purpose of the gifts. Gill describes tongues as a miraculous sign for those who need convincing, while prophecy serves those who already believe. Clarke warns the Corinthians not to let tongues become a curse by using them without interpretation. All agree on the basic point: tongues aim at outsiders, prophecy at insiders. The debate turns on whether the sign of tongues is primarily a judgment (like the foreign speech of an invading army) or an evangelistic attention-getter. Either way, the verse corrects the Corinthian love of public, uninterpreted tongues by steering them toward what builds up the church.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Judgment sign: The Isaiah quotation speaks of foreign tongues as punishment for unbelief; the verse therefore warns that uninterpreted tongues may bring judgment, not blessing.
- Evangelistic sign: Tongues at Pentecost attracted attention and led to conversion; Paul elsewhere treats miracles as confirming the gospel to unbelievers.
What is clear: All traditions agree that tongues are intended for unbelievers, prophecy for believers, and that the Corinthian practice of using uninterpreted tongues in the assembly confused this distinction.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The purpose of tongues as a sign | Tongues are intended primarily for unbelievers, not for believers. | Some commentators (Gill, Calvin, Matthew Henry) see the sign as a judgment, foreign speech that condemns unbelief. Others (Barnes, Wesley, Adam Clarke) see it as an evangelistic miracle that draws attention to the gospel. |
| The primary audience for prophecy | Prophecy is primarily for believers, for edification, exhortation, and comfort. | The debate concerns whether prophecy also functions as a sign to unbelievers. Verse 24 suggests it can convict unbelievers, but verse 22 says it is 'not for the unbelieving.' Some reconcile this by calling prophecy a secondary benefit, not its main purpose. |
| The meaning of 'sign' (sēmeion) | The word denotes a miracle or indication of divine presence. | Whether the sign carries a positive connotation (proof that God is at work) or a negative one (proof that God has abandoned a hardened people). The context of Isaiah 28 leans negative, but the overall New Testament use of tongues (e.g., Pentecost) leans positive. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul draws the phrase “a sign” from his quotation of Isaiah 28:11, 12 in the previous verse. In Isaiah’s day, the Assyrian army speaking a foreign language was a sign of judgment on Israel for refusing to listen to God’s simple message. The Cambridge Bible notes that this was “a call to repentance” but also a punishment. When Paul applies this to Corinth, he warns that tongues used incomprehensibly in the assembly could become a similar sign of judgment, God giving people what they do not understand because they rejected what they could understand.
The Day of Pentecost provides the positive side. There, tongues allowed each listener to hear in his own language (Acts 2:6, 12). That was a sign for unbelieving Jews to pay attention and ask, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12). The gift worked as an evangelistic bridge. In Corinth, however, believers were speaking in tongues without interpretation, turning the gift inward and making it useless for outsiders. Paul is reorienting them to the gift’s original design: tongues are not for self-display but for reaching those who have not yet believed.
The surrounding context reinforces this. In verse 23, Paul imagines an unbeliever walking into a service of all tongues and concluding the believers are crazy. In contrast, when all prophesy (speak intelligibly), the unbeliever’s heart is exposed, and he worships God (vv.24, 25). So even though the verse says prophecy is not for unbelievers, Paul immediately shows it can reach them, but by content, not by spectacle. The sign-function of tongues is outward; the edification of prophecy is inward.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is stable across the major manuscript traditions. The slight differences in English translations (e.g., “other languages” vs. “tongues”) reflect translation choices, not variant readings.
Reception History
Ancient interpreters, including Chrysostom and Augustine, read this verse in light of Pentecost: tongues as a sign to unbelieving Jews, prophecy as the ongoing voice of the church. The medieval tradition emphasized the priority of intelligible speech for the congregation. During the Reformation, commentators such as Calvin and Beza stressed the judgment aspect, using the verse to critique practices in the Roman church that excluded lay understanding. In the twentieth century, with the rise of Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement, the verse became central in debates about the public use of tongues. Christians who practice tongues often cite v.22 to defend their evangelistic potential, while those who restrict public tongues point to v.23’s warning about confusion. Both sides appeal to the same passage.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Tongues are a sign for the outsider. God designed this gift to catch the attention of those who don’t yet believe. It is a miracle that points beyond itself, saying, “This is from God.”
- Prophecy is a sign for the insider. Speaking in a known language under the Spirit’s guidance builds up believers. It strengthens faith and exposes the heart.
- Let the purpose guide the practice. The Corinthians used tongues in ways that served themselves. Paul calls them back to a simple test: does this help people meet Jesus?
Five-point outline
- Understand the background. Paul quotes Isaiah 28, where foreign tongues were a judgment. The Corinthians risked repeating that error.
- Know the audiences. Tongues target the unconvinced; prophecy targets the convinced.
- Don’t misuse the sign. Using tongues without interpretation in the assembly turns a blessing into a barrier.
- Let prophecy lead. Edification of the church is the top priority (1 Cor 14:1).
- Welcome the outsider. Both gifts serve the mission, but prophecy does the heavy lifting in making God known.
Illustration hooks
- A road sign that warns of danger ahead, it’s meant for drivers who haven’t seen the hazard yet, not for those who already know the road.
- A fire alarm. It grabs attention and signals crisis. Once people are safe, the alarm is turned off; continuous alarm helps no one.
- A class taught in a foreign language. The teacher’s mastery means nothing if no student understands. The point is communication, not performance.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this verse mean we should never speak in tongues during a worship service?
- If prophecy is for believers, why does Paul say it convinces unbelievers in verses 24, 25?
- How do we apply this today when the gift of tongues is practiced differently in different churches?
Leading a Discussion
This verse puts two spiritual gifts side by side and asks which one serves the church best. Paul does not forbid tongues, but he insists they be used where they will actually help. Prophecy, intelligible Spirit-led speech, builds believers and can also reach unbelievers. Tongues, when used publicly without interpretation, fail on both counts. The passage invites us to evaluate every church practice by the same standard: does it help people grow in faith?
Discussion questions
- Read verses 21, 25 as a group. How does the quotation from Isaiah affect the way you understand Paul’s argument in verse 22?
- Paul says tongues are “for a sign” to unbelievers. Based on the verse and its context, what kind of sign do you think he means, a warning, an invitation, or both? Why?
- In verse 23, Paul describes a visitor walking into a service full of uninterpreted tongues. How would you feel if you were that visitor? What does this teach about church culture?
- Prophecy is said to be “for believers,” yet verses 24, 25 show prophecy reaching an unbeliever. How do you reconcile this? Is Paul making a general rule or a practical priority?
- This chapter is about “building up the church” (v.12). How does the comparison in verse 22 help you decide which gifts to prioritize in your own life and in your congregation?
- If someone today says they have a “prophetic word” for the church, what checks would you use to make sure it fits the pattern Paul describes here?
- How can this verse shape the way you pray about spiritual gifts? What might you start asking for, or stop asking for?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Mark 16:17 | These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; |
| Acts 2:6 | When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. |
| Acts 2:12 | They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” |
| Acts 2:32 | This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. |
| Acts 2:36 | “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” |
| I Corinthians 14:1 | Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. |
| I Timothy 1:9 | as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke warns that the gift of tongues, intended to draw unbelievers to God, can become a curse if used for personal display in public worship where no one understands. He insists that teaching Scripture in a language people know matters far more than speaking all the foreign languages in the world.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that Paul calls tongues a sign for unbelievers because the miracle of speaking in other languages was meant to astonish those who had not yet accepted the gospel. Believers, already persuaded, need the edification of prophecy, not the spectacle of tongues. The Corinthians erred by chasing the miracle while neglecting what truly builds faith.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary reads the Old Testament quote as pointing to the Babylonian captivity, not Pentecost. The strange speech of invading armies was a sign of Israel's unbelief and a call to repentance; similarly, miraculous tongues served as a sign to unbelievers, prompting them to examine and turn to God.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Geneva Notes draw a sharp contrast: tongues serve as a sign for unbelievers, not for believers, while prophecy serves believers, not unbelievers. This distinction underscores the priority Paul places on intelligible edification in the church.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that speaking in tongues served as a miraculous sign, not for believers, but to convince unbelievers—specifically as a sign of judgment on rebellious Israel. Prophecy, by contrast, directly builds up believers in faith and comfort. Since the Corinthian church was made up of believers, tongues had little place in their worship.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Tongues, when uninterpreted, are mainly a sign of condemnation for those who reject the message, not a sign intended to confirm believers in their faith. This mirrors Isaiah’s day, where the sign only hardened those who refused to listen. Prophecy, by contrast, reaches those open to belief and nourishes existing faith.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that speaking in tongues was not the ability to speak foreign languages but an ecstatic, inspired utterance in the spirit with the understanding suspended. This made it unintelligible without interpretation, so it could only edify the speaker himself, not the church. The gift served as a sign of judgment to unbelievers, not a tool for conversion.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry treats the ability to speak in unknown languages as a sign of judgment rather than blessing. When God speaks to people in a language they cannot understand, he argues, it is evidence they have been abandoned by him, not favored. True gracious instruction comes in plain, understandable speech.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a sharp distinction between the two gifts: tongues serve as a sign to unbelievers, grabbing their attention and showing that the message comes from God. Prophecy, by contrast, is not primarily for unbelievers but for strengthening those who already believe.Wesley draws a sharp distinction between the two gifts. Tongues serve as a sign to unbelievers, designed to catch their attention and prove the message comes from God. Prophecy, by contrast, is not for unbelievers but for confirming and strengthening those who already believe.