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Text -- 1 Corinthians 14:9 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
14:9 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.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Words | Tongues | Tongue | TONGUES, GIFT OF | SPEECH | Preaching | PROPHECY; PROPHETS, 2 | MINISTRY | Language | Interpretation | HOLY SPIRIT, 2 | Corinth | AIR | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
, Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: 1Co 14:9 - -- Unless ye utter speech easy to be understood ( ean mē eusēmon logon dōte ). Condition of third class again (ean and aorist subjunctive). Euse...

Unless ye utter speech easy to be understood ( ean mē eusēmon logon dōte ).

Condition of third class again (ean and aorist subjunctive). Eusēmon (eu , well, sēma , sign) is old word, here only in N.T., well-marked, distinct, clear. Good enunciation, a hint for speakers.

Robertson: 1Co 14:9 - -- Ye will be speaking into the air ( esesthe eis aera lalountes ). Periphrastic future indicative (linear action). Cf. aera derōn (beating the air)...

Ye will be speaking into the air ( esesthe eis aera lalountes ).

Periphrastic future indicative (linear action). Cf. aera derōn (beating the air) in 1Co 9:26. Cf. our talking to the wind. This was before the days of radio.

Wesley: 1Co 14:9 - -- Which is miraculously given you.

Which is miraculously given you.

Wesley: 1Co 14:9 - -- By your hearers.

By your hearers.

Wesley: 1Co 14:9 - -- A proverbial expression. Will utterly lose your labour.

A proverbial expression. Will utterly lose your labour.

JFB: 1Co 14:9 - -- Who have life; as opposed to "things without life" (1Co 14:7).

Who have life; as opposed to "things without life" (1Co 14:7).

JFB: 1Co 14:9 - -- The language which ye speak in.

The language which ye speak in.

JFB: 1Co 14:9 - -- Ye will be speaking into the air, that is, in vain (1Co 9:26).

Ye will be speaking into the air, that is, in vain (1Co 9:26).

Clarke: 1Co 14:9 - -- 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...

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.

TSK: 1Co 14:9 - -- easy : Gr. significant, 1Co 14:19 for : 1Co 9:26

easy : Gr. significant, 1Co 14:19

for : 1Co 9:26

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 1Co 14:9 - -- So likewise ye ... - 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...

So likewise ye ... - 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 he 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.

Poole: 1Co 14:9 - -- By logon eushmon is meant words which signify well to those that hear them; for words may be significant enough in themselves, yet nothing at all s...

By logon eushmon is meant words which signify well to those that hear them; for words may be significant enough in themselves, yet nothing at all significant to them that hear them, being unlearned; such sounds of words can contribute nothing to people’ s knowledge, but are so much lost labour. This is a text that deserveth the thoughts of those who affect in preaching, if not the use of languages, yet the use of a style, or method, which not one of many of those who hear them understand. It is all one to speak in an unknown tongue, as in a style or method that people do not understand; and truly, such are the generality of ministers’ hearers, that words most significant in themselves, and to learned ears, are least significant to them, being hardest to be understood; so as they know nothing of what they say, and the minister doth but, as to the far greater number of people, beat the air (which is a dreadful meditation).

Gill: 1Co 14:9 - -- So likewise you, unless ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood,.... This is an accommodation of the foregoing similes to the case in hand:...

So likewise you, unless ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood,.... This is an accommodation of the foregoing similes to the case in hand: for as unless there is a distinction of notes and tunes, it cannot be music, nor it cannot be known what is piped or harped; and unless the trumpet gives a certain sound, none can know when to prepare himself for the battle; so unless in the public ministry and service a language is spoken, and words made use of, which are understood without difficulty:

how shall it be known what is spoken? the subject matter of the discourse, prayer, or psalm, will be all lost, and therefore cannot be for edification, exhortation, or comfort:

for ye shall speak into the air; into which such words are resolved, and the use and benefit of them, as to others, cease with the breath, by which they are delivered: any part of divine service performed in such a way is all in vain, and to no purpose; it is all lost labour, it is beating the air, and talking to the wind. This condemns the practice of the Papists, performing divine service in a language not understood by the common people; and exposes the folly of those, who are fond of a florid style, of bombast words, great swelling words of vanity in their public discourses: this is only speaking into the air, with regard to the vulgar, whose edification should be consulted: and as the end of the Gospel ministry is public usefulness and edification, plainness of speech, words easy to be understood, should be used; such as are apt and fit to convey the true idea of things to people in common; these are the acceptable words, which the wise preacher, who is desirous of doing good to the souls of men, will seek out, and studiously make use of.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

Geneva Bible: 1Co 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words ( f ) easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 1Co 14:1-40 - --1 Prophecy is commended,2 and preferred before speaking with tongues,6 by a comparison drawn from musical instruments.12 Both must be referred to edif...

MHCC: 1Co 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...

Matthew Henry: 1Co 14:6-14 - -- In this paragraph he goes on to show how vain a thing the ostentation of speaking unknown and unintelligible language must be. It was altogether une...

Barclay: 1Co 14:1-19 - --This chapter is very difficult to understand because it deals with a phenomenon which, for most of us, is outside our experience. Throughout Paul s...

Constable: 1Co 7:1--16:13 - --III. Questions asked of Paul 7:1--16:12 The remainder of the body of this epistle deals with questions the Corin...

Constable: 1Co 12:1--14:40 - --E. Spiritual gifts and spiritual people chs. 12-14 Paul had been dealing with matters related to worship...

Constable: 1Co 14:1-25 - --4. The need for intelligibility 14:1-25 Paul went on to elaborate on the inferiority of the gift...

Constable: 1Co 14:6-12 - --Supporting analogies 14:6-12 Paul illustrated his point that hearers do not benefit at all from what they do not understand. He used musical instrumen...

College: 1Co 14:1-40 - --1 CORINTHIANS 14 D. GIFTS OF PROPHECY AND TONGUES (14:1-25) 1. Tongues and Prophecy Compared (14:1-5) 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire s...

McGarvey: 1Co 14:9 - --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 .

Lapide: 1Co 14:1-40 - --CHAPTER XIV SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He puts prophecy before the gift of tongues, because ( a ) it is of great use in edifying others, and tongue...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) First Corinthians From Ephesus a.d. 54 Or 55 By Way of Introduction It would be a hard-boiled critic today who would dare deny the genuineness o...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The AUTHENTICITY of this Epistle is attested by CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians, 47], POLYCARP [Epistle to the Philippians, 11], and...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Outline) THE INSCRIPTION; THANKSGIVING FOR THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH; REPROOF OF PARTY DIVISIONS: HIS OWN METHOD OF PREACHING ONLY CHRIST. ...

TSK: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) Overview 1Co 14:1, Prophecy is commended, 1Co 14:2, and preferred before speaking with tongues, 1Co 14:6, by a comparison drawn from musical instr...

Poole: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 14

MHCC: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The Corinthian church contained some Jews, but more Gentiles, and the apostle had to contend with the superstition of the one, and the sinful conduct ...

MHCC: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) (1Co 14:1-5) Prophecy preferred to the gift of tongues. (1Co 14:6-14) The unprofitableness of speaking in unknown languages. (1Co 14:15-25) Exhortat...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians Corinth was a principal city of Greece, in that partic...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter the apostle directs them about the use of their spiritual gifts, preferring those that are best and fitted to do the greatest good....

Barclay: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) The False And The True Worship (1Co_14:1-19) The Effects Of False And True Worship (1Co_14:20-25) Practical Advice (1Co_14:26-33) Forbidden Innova...

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background Corinth had a long history stretching back into the...

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-9 A. Salutation 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving 1:4-9 ...

Constable: 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Bibliography Adams, Jay. Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presb...

Haydock: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE CORINTHIANS. INTRODUCTION. Corinth was the capital of Achaia, a very rich and populous city...

Gill: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS This was not the first epistle that was written by the apostle to the Corinthians, for we read in this of his having ...

Gill: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 14 In this chapter the apostle discourses concerning the use of spiritual gifts, and prefers prophesying, or preachin...

College: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) FOREWORD Since the past few decades have seen an explosion in the number of books, articles, and commentaries on First Corinthians, a brief word to t...

College: 1 Corinthians (Outline) OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION - 1:1-9 A. Salutation - 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving - 1:4-9 II. DISUNITY AND COMMUNITY FRAGMENTATION - 1:10-4:21 A. ...

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