1 Corinthians 14:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If Paul does not know a language, he and the speaker become foreigners to each other, unable to connect.
What Does 1 Corinthians 14:11 Mean?
Paul personalizes the matter of unknown languages. When meaning is missing, two people stand near each other yet remain strangers, each a foreigner to the other despite all the words being spoken.
The word he uses pictured someone whose speech sounded like meaningless babble to Greek ears. Paul turns it into a parable of separation: without understanding, even sincere speech builds a wall instead of a bridge. He longs for the church to be a place where no one is a stranger, where the Spirit's gifts draw people together rather than leaving them isolated. Understanding is the doorway to fellowship.
1 Corinthians 14:11 in the Original Language
barbaros (βάρβαρος), 'barbarian' -- a foreigner whose speech is unintelligible, one outside the circle of shared understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 14:11
What does 1 Corinthians 14:11 mean?
If Paul does not know a language, he and the speaker become foreigners to each other, unable to connect.