bible verses about tongues

Bible Verses About Tongues: 12

Bible verses about tongues: 12 Scriptures on glossa and speaking in tongues as gift.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 30, 20265 min readActs 2:4 (NIV)

A small group gathers in a courtyard as wind moves through the olive leaves above them.

"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

— Acts 2:4 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about tongues want Scripture on speaking in tongues / languages as gift — not only the broader spiritual gifts list or the Holy Spirit list alone. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about spiritual gifts, Bible verses about the Holy Spirit, Bible verses about prayer, Bible verses about worship, Bible verses about faith, and Bible verse of the day. Tongues here means glōssa — languages or tongues as the Spirit enables — distinct from the full gifts catalog alone or from every work of the Spirit alone.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "tongue / language" is γλῶσσα glōssa (Strong's G1100; Bible Hub G1100) — the tongue; a language or dialect. Acts 2 shows Spirit-enabled speech in other tongues at Pentecost; 1 Corinthians 12–14 places kinds of tongues among the gifts and gives order for their use in the church. Tongues in Scripture is gift-speech under the Spirit — not a spectacle for its own sake.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 2 marks the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance (Bible Hub MHC Acts 2; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Acts 2). On 1 Corinthians 14 he presses that tongues without love or without order does not build the church, and that prophecy and intelligible speech serve the gathered body (Bible Hub MHC 1 Corinthians 14; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 14). (Spiritual gifts and Holy Spirit lists live on those pages; this list centers glōssa itself.)

12 Bible verses about tongues

  1. Acts 2:4. "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Filled — speak in other tongues. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

  2. Acts 2:11. "(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues. See Bible verses about worship.

  3. Mark 16:17. "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;" Speak in new tongues. See Bible verses about faith.

  4. Acts 10:46. "For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said," Speaking in tongues and praising God. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

  5. Acts 19:6. "When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied." Spoke in tongues and prophesied. See Bible verses about spiritual gifts.

  6. 1 Corinthians 14:2. "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit." Speaks to God — mysteries by the Spirit. See Bible verses about prayer.

  7. 1 Corinthians 14:4. "Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church." Speaks in a tongue — edifies themselves. See Bible verses about spiritual gifts.

  8. 1 Corinthians 14:5. "I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified." Prefer prophecy for the church's edification. See Bible verses about spiritual gifts.

  9. 1 Corinthians 14:18. "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." Paul speaks in tongues. See Bible verses about gratitude.

  10. 1 Corinthians 14:39. "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues." Do not forbid speaking in tongues. See Bible verses about spiritual gifts.

  11. 1 Corinthians 13:1. "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." Tongues without love — empty noise. See Bible verses about God's love.

  12. 1 Corinthians 14:13-15. "For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding." Pray to interpret; spirit and understanding. See Bible verses about prayer.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse when you need clarity on tongues — not twelve as a grind. If you need Pentecost, start with Acts 2:4. If you need church order and love, open 1 Corinthians 14:2 and 1 Corinthians 13:1. If you need the "do not forbid" word, open 1 Corinthians 14:39. For the broader gifts list, open Bible verses about spiritual gifts. For the Spirit's person and work, open Bible verses about the Holy Spirit. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about tongues?

Acts 2:4 (speak in other tongues), 1 Corinthians 14:2 (speaks to God), and 1 Corinthians 14:39 (do not forbid speaking in tongues) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about tongues differ from spiritual gifts?

The live spiritual-gifts page catalogs many gifts together. A tongues page centers glōssa — speaking in tongues / languages — then cross-links spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit, and prayer. See Bible verses about spiritual gifts.

What does glōssa mean?

Greek glōssa (G1100) means tongue, or a language/dialect. In Acts and 1 Corinthians it often names Spirit-enabled speech in tongues.

Should churches forbid speaking in tongues?

1 Corinthians 14:39 says do not forbid speaking in tongues, while the same chapter requires order, love, and edification of the church. See Bible verses about spiritual gifts.

Where can I read more about spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit, and prayer?

Start with Bible verses about spiritual gifts, then Bible verses about the Holy Spirit, Bible verses about prayer, and Bible verses about worship.

Sources

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