1 Corinthians 14:9 net — 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…

NET Bible

"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."

— 1 Corinthians 14:9, NET Bible

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1 Corinthians 14:9 in Other Translations

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1 Corinthians 14 — Context

6

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

7

It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood?

8

If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle?

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.

10

There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning.

11

If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

12

It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.

1 Corinthians 14:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 14:9 say?
1 Corinthians 14:9 in the NET Bible reads: “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.”
Where is 1 Corinthians 14:9 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 14:9 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 14, verse 9.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 14:9.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 14:9 in?
1 Corinthians 14:9 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 14:9?
1 Corinthians 14:9 reads (NET): “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.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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