1 Corinthians 14:21 Meaning and Explanation
“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul cites Scripture: God would speak to His people through strange tongues, yet even then they would refuse to listen.
What Does 1 Corinthians 14:21 Mean?
Paul reaches back to the prophet Isaiah, calling the Scriptures of Israel by the broad name of the law. The passage spoke of God addressing a stubborn people through foreign speech, a sign of judgment when His plainer words had been ignored.
The sobering note is that even strange tongues did not turn their hearts; they still would not hear. Paul draws on this to set up his next point about what tongues signify. Underneath lies a warning that runs through all Scripture: signs and wonders cannot soften a heart that refuses to listen. What God seeks is not amazement but a people who will truly hear and obey His voice.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 14:21
What does 1 Corinthians 14:21 mean?
Paul cites Scripture: God would speak to His people through strange tongues, yet even then they would refuse to listen.