As earlier stated, the glossolalia (or speaking with tongues) is a spiritual language which is veiled to the mind of man. That is, no man understands tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, FOR NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HIM; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”
Now, this does not mean that tongues is in itself gibberish or nonsense. It only SOUNDS that way to the human mind. Since the human mind needs to be taught a language before it can comprehend it, tongues would naturally sound foolish to the mind of man—it is not a learnt language. Tongues, on its own, would therefore appear unintelligible to the mind of man; incapable of being understood.
Tongues, however, can be understood, when interpreted. God did not only bestow upon His Church the gift of tongues, He also gave us the ability to interpret (i.e. make meaning of) those tongues, “To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES” (1 Corin 12:10). With the gift of tongues also comes the gift of the interpretation of tongues. The interpretation of tongues is to say in a known language what has been uttered in tongues.
Notice that it is the gift of interpretation of tongues, not the translation of tongues. There is a difference. A translation is a literal word-for-word rendering of statements spoken in another language. Whereas an interpretation is a summary or the essence of what was said. The Greek word used by Paul for “interpretation” in 1 Corinthians 12:10 is “herméneia” (ἑρμηνεία) which refers to “the gist of what was said.” It is not a strict translation, or a word-for-word rendering. It simply means to give an equivalent meaning or the main point of the message; the crux of the matter. Thus, in interpreting tongues, the interpreter is not translating each syllable he utters. He speaks in tongues, then he gives a message in a known language, which SUMMARIZES what he has said in tongues. Practically, this means that the tongue may span for ten minutes, while its interpretation may be just one word (e.g. “Rejoice!”). Also, the tongue may be just one word, while its interpretation comes in form of a message ten minutes long.
Paul describes the interpretation of tongues in various ways in 1 Corinthians 14 (i.e. he uses synonymous terms to qualify this gift). It is to speak “by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching” (vs. 6). The hearer understands the words being spoken. It is “words easy to understand” (vs. 9). It is “praying with one’s understanding” (vs. 15). It is to speak words “in one’s understanding,” which would “teach others” (vv. 18-19). Those “five words in the understanding” (vv. 18-19) refer to an interpretation.
While tongues is strictly between God and the speaker (1 Corin 14:2), and its main aim is to edify the speaker (cf. 1 Corin 14:4), the interpretation of tongues functions to edify a third party.
1 Corinthians 14:16-19 (NKJV)
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit (i.e. in tongues), how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other (i.e. the third party) is not edified. 18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet IN THE CHURCH I would rather speak FIVE WORDS WITH MY UNDERSTANDING (i.e. interpretation of tongues), that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
These “third parties” (who require the interpretation of tongues) would be found in the Church (vs. 19) i.e. the assembly of the saints. The interpretation is to bless other believers, in Christian gatherings, who cannot understand what has been said in tongues. This is actually walking in love.
The gifts of the Spirit were given “for the profit of all,” Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:7, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (or for “the common good,” the Greek says). That is, the gifts were not given to benefit just you. They were given to you, so you can bless other believers in the Body of Christ.
This is the reason for 1 Corinthians 13. 1 Corinthians 13 discusses love within the context of spiritual gifts; love should be our drive, as we function in our spiritual gifts. Love is the “most excellent way” to “earnestly desire the gifts” of the Spirit (1 Corin 12:31). Love means to look out for others. It means we understand that the manifestation of the Spirit’s gifts is not just about us; we are also to be concerned about our brothers and sisters in Christ getting edified. Thus, by the interpretation of tongues, we are looking out for the good/betterment/growth/development of others. It is an expression of the believer’s love-walk, to ensure that others, not just ourselves, are being edified.
The interpretation of tongues is equivalent to prophecy. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:5, “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues…” Why is he greater? Because no one understands tongues. Tongues therefore do not edify others, only the speaker. The one who prophesies speaks God’s message in a KNOWN language. Therefore everyone, not just him, is edified (i.e. built up, strengthened and encouraged). He is therefore “greater” (or of more benefit) only IN THE ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS.
This is the context of “best” gifts or “greater” gifts (1 Corin 12:31). They are “best” and “greater” only within a context—which gifts will edify/bless the ENTIRE Church, not just the inspired? Those are the best gifts! Therefore, he who prophesies is “greater” than he who speaks in tongues, only in the assembly. Why? Because he will edify the saints. But Paul does not stop there. He continues, “…UNLESS indeed he (who speaks with tongues) interprets, that the church may receive edification” (vs. 5). Once he interprets, he who speaks with tongues ascends to the same level as one who prophesies. He is no longer “greater.” Both can now bless the Church, in a KNOWN language.
Therefore, tongues plus its interpretation is equivalent to prophecy. It is on the same level/plane/rank/position as prophecy. Tongues interpreted have equalized with prophecy. Both the interpretation and prophecy will bless the congregation. The one who speaks in tongues also has the ability to interpret what he has said (cf. 1 Corin 14:13-15). Once he does this, he matches the one who prophesies in utility/benefit.
It is observable in the Book of Acts that believers who spoke in tongues also gave the interpretation.
Acts 10:44-46 (NKJV)
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy
Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and MAGNIFY GOD.
“Magnify God” refers to what they said in the understanding (i.e. a known language). It is the interpretation of their tongues. Similarly, Acts 19:6 records, “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues AND PROPHESIED.” They “prophesied” after speaking with tongues. That is, there was a message in a known language, after they had uttered words in tongues.
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul lets us know that we can interpret our tongues in such a manner that everyone in the Church would be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:27-31 (NKJV)
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or
three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
From this text, we learn two things:
1) In public gatherings, the interpretation of tongues (which is equivalent to prophecy) should be done in succession (i.e. one after the other), and in groups i.e. two or three (vv. 27, 29). While one speaks, others in the group are to remain silent and listen (vs. 30).
2) If someone in the group is having difficulty interpreting his tongues, he should not address the group yet, but continue speaking in tongues quietly to himself (vs. 28). This will inspire prophecy eventually. This leads us to the subject of prophecy, which would be examined in the next section.
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2026.
