SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:2
Porque el que habla en lenguas, no habla a los hombres, sino a Dios; porque nadie le entiende, aunque por el Espíritu hable misterios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:2
Verse 2. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue] This chapter is crowded with difficulties. It is not likely that the Holy Spirit should, in the church, suddenly inspire a man with the knowledge of some foreign language, which none in the church understood but himself; and lead him to treat the mysteries of Christianity in that language, though none in the place could profit by his teaching. Dr. Lightfoot's mode of reconciling these difficulties is the most likely I have met with. He supposes that by the unknown tongue the Hebrew is meant, and that God restored the true knowledge of this language when he gave the apostles the gift of tongues. As the Scriptures of the Old Testament were contained in this language, and it has beauties, energies, and depths in it which no verbal translation can reach, it was necessary, for the proper elucidation of the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and the establishment of the Christian religion, that the full meaning of the words of this sacred language should be properly understood. And it is possible that the Hebrew Scriptures were sometimes read in the Christian congregations as they were in the Jewish synagogues; and if the person who read and understood them had not the power and faculty of explaining them to others, in vain did he read and understand them himself.
And we know that it is possible for a man to understand a language, the force, phraseology, and idioms of which he is incapable of explaining even in his mother tongue. We shall see, in the course of these notes, how this view of the subject will apply to the illustration of the apostle's words throughout the chapter.
Speaketh not unto men, but unto God] None present understanding the language, God alone knowing the truth and import of what he says:- In the spirit he speaketh mysteries.] Though his own mind (for so pneumati is understood here by many eminent critics) apprehends the mysteries contained in the words which he reads or utters; but if, by the spirit, we understand the Spirit of God, it only shows that it is by that Spirit that he is enabled to speak and apprehend these mysteries. See the note on 1 Cor. xiv. 19.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue , etc.] Or with tongues, as some copies and the Ethiopic version read: Dr. Lightfoot thinks, that the Hebrew tongue, which was become a dead language, and understood but by few, is here meant, and that not without reason; seeing the public prayers, preaching, and singing of psalms among the Jews, were in this languages f284 ; in imitation of whom, such ministers, who had the gift of speaking this language, read the Scriptures, preached, prayed, and sung psalms in it, which were no ways to the edification of the people, who understood it not; upon which account the apostle recommends prophesying, praying, and singing, in a language that was understood: otherwise he speaketh not unto men ; to the understanding, profit, and edification of men: but unto God: to his praise and glory, and he only knowing, who knows all languages, and every word in the tongue what is said; excepting himself, unless there should be any present capable of interpreting: for no man understandeth him : or heareth him: that is, hears him, so as to understand him; he may hear a sound, but he cannot tell the meaning of it, and so it is of no use and advantage to him: howbeit in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries ; though under the influence and by the extraordinary gift of the Spirit he has, and to his own Spirit and understanding, and with great affection and devotion within himself, he speaks of the deep things of God, and the mysteries of his grace, the most glorious truths of the Gospel, yet the meaning of his voice and words not being known, he is a barbarian to them that hear him; and though what he delivers are truths of the greatest importance, they are a mere jargon to others, being unintelligible.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Prophesying, that is, explaining Scripture, is compared with speakin with tongues. This drew attention, more than the plain interpretatio of Scripture; it gratified pride more, but promoted the purposes of Christian charity less; it would not equally do good to the souls of men. What cannot be understood, never can edify. No advantage can be reaped from the most excellent discourses, if delivered in languag such as the hearers cannot speak or understand. Every ability of possession is valuable in proportion to its usefulness. Even fervent spiritual affection must be governed by the exercise of the understanding, else men will disgrace the truths they profess to promote.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM γαρ 1063 CONJ λαλων 2980 5723 V-PAP-NSM γλωσση 1100 N-DSF ουκ 3756 PRT-N ανθρωποις 444 N-DPM λαλει 2980 5719 V-PAI-3S αλλα 235 CONJ τω 3588 T-DSM θεω 2316 N-DSM ουδεις 3762 A-NSM γαρ 1063 CONJ ακουει 191 5719 V-PAI-3S πνευματι 4151 N-DSN δε 1161 CONJ λαλει 2980 5719 V-PAI-3S μυστηρια 3466 N-APN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:2 {For no man understandeth} (oudeis gar akouei). Literally, hears, gets the sense, understands. Verb akouw used either of hearing the sound only or getting the idea (cf. #Ac 9:7; 22:9). {Mysteries} (musteria). Unexplained mysteries (#1Co 2:7).
