What Does 1 Corinthians 14:22 Mean?
So then tongues are for a sign, not for those who trust, but for those who do not trust. But prophecy is not for those who do not trust, but for those who trust.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
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.THE KEY
Here the same gathering holds two directions of speech: tongues signal toward those who do not trust, while prophecy serves those who do.
THE MEANING
This verse speaks now: tongues stand as a sign toward hearers who do not trust, while prophecy serves those who trust by building up the assembly. The distinction names what each form of speech serves; the chapter also shows an outsider being convicted through prophecy. The listener’s position shapes how the speech functions.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A spiritual utterance automatically builds every listener in the same way.
THE ROOT
γλῶσσα
glōssa
GROWS FROM
γλωσσ-
glōss-
Tongue; by extension, a language.
“tongues” in this verse is glōssa. This word names both the tongue in the body and the language voiced through it. A spoken tongue can carry a real message and still remain inaccessible to those who cannot interpret it.
ALSO GROWS
glōssai: Tongues; languages.
γλώσσαι
The plural form makes the verse’s range of spoken tongues audible.
heteroglōssois: In other tongues; in other languages.
ἑτερογλώσσοις
This form appears in the preceding verse and links tongues to speech that differs from the hearers’ own.
σημεῖον
sēmeion
GROWS FROM
σημ-
sēm-
A mark or signal that points to something.
A sign is a marker with a direction: here, tongues are assigned a signaling function toward those who do not trust. Its presence does not by itself make the speech shared or understood.
ALSO GROWS
sēma: Mark; sign.
σῆμα
This related word makes visible the idea of a marker that identifies or points.
sēmainō: To indicate; to signify.
σημαίνω
This verb shows how a sign directs attention beyond itself.
πιστεύουσιν
pisteuousin
GROWS FROM
πιστ-
pist-
Trust; reliance; placing confidence in.
The same root shapes both audiences: those who trust and those without trust. The verse’s division is about the hearer’s posture of trust, not merely the possession of information.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: Trust; reliance.
πίστις
The noun names the trust carried in the verse’s word for believing.
apistos: Without trust; untrusting.
ἄπιστος
This is the form used for the audience set opposite those who trust.
THE PATTERN
Speech can mark distance when it remains foreign, while understood proclamation makes what is hidden recognizable.
For with stammering lips and another tongue he will speak to this people.Cretes and Arabians, we hear them speak in our tongues the great works of God.The covered things of his heart become visible, and so, falling on his face, he will bow down to God, and announce that God is truly in you.THE THREAD
In the instruction it is written, "With other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people," and even so they will not hear me, says the LORD.“Other tongues” shares γλῶσσα (glōssa, tongue or language) with this verse. The line connects that sign with speech that may be heard and still go unreceived.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us