Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:10
Verse 10. There are, it may be] ei tucoi, For example. So many kinds of voices] So many different languages, each of which has its distinct articulation, pronunciation, emphasis, and meaning; or there may be so many different nations, each possessing a different language, &c.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices , etc.] ançl , “tongues”, or “languages”, as the Syriac version renders it; that is, as many as there are nations in the world; there may be seventy of them, as the Jews say there were at the confusion of languages at Babel; there may be more or less: and none of them is without signification : every language, and every word in a language, has a meaning in it, an idea annexed to it, which it conveys to him that understands it, and that cannot be done without a voice ordinarily speaking.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-14 - Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understoo by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hea them, is but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers ar barbarians to each other. All religious services should be so performe in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them Language plain and easy to be understood, is the most proper for publi worship, and other religious exercises. Every true follower of Chris will rather desire to do good to others, than to get a name for learning or fine speaking.
Greek Textus Receptus
τοσαυτα 5118 D-NPN ει 1487 COND τυχοι 5177 5630 V-2AAO-3S γενη 1085 N-NPN φωνων 5456 N-GPM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S εν 1722 PREP κοσμω 2889 N-DSM και 2532 CONJ ουδεν 3762 A-NSN {VAR1: αυτων 846 P-GPM } αφωνον 880 A-NSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
10. Voices - without signification (fwnwn - afwnwn). The translation loses the word-play. So many kinds of voices, and no kind is voiceless. By voices are meant languages.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:10 {It may be} (ei tucoi). Condition of fourth class (ei and aorist optative of tugcanw), if it should happen. Common enough idiom. Cf. tucon in #16:6. {Without signification} (afwnon). Old adjective (a privative and fwne). Without the faculty of speech (#12:2; Ac 8:32; 2Pe 2:16).
