Speaking in Tongues

Today, we’re stepping into a topic that has stirred curiosity, confusion, and sometimes even controversy—the gift of speaking in tongues. But Scripture doesn’t treat this gift as something strange or frightening. It treats it as something beautiful, purposeful, and deeply connected to the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

My goal today is simple: To bring clarity, encouragement, and biblical grounding so that we can understand this gift the way YHWH intended—not through fear, not through pressure, and not through misuse, but through truth.

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What Speaking in Tongues Is

Speaking in tongues is a supernatural ability given by the Holy Spirit that enables a believer to speak in a language they didn’t learn naturally. Scripture presents tongues as:

a. A sign of the Spirit’s outpouring:

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” – Acts 2:4

b. A spiritual gift for the edification of the church when interpreted:

“to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” – 1 Corinthians 12:10

“Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” – 1 Corinthians 14:5

c. A means of prayer and praise to YHWH:

“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 14:2

“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.” – 1 Corinthians 14:14–15

d. A personal edification gift when used privately:

“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” – 1 Corinthians 14:4

• Tongues is fundamentally Godward, not man-centered. Paul says the one who speaks in tongues “speaks to God” (1 Corinthians 14:2). It’s worship, prayer, or proclamation directed heavenward.
• Tongues is also Spirit-enabled, not self-generated. The Spirit gives the utterance (Acts 2:4), meaning the believer participates, but the content originates from the Spirit.

To recap, tongues is:

• Spirit-enabled speech
• Directed toward YHWH
• A form of prayer, praise, or proclamation
• A sign of the Spirit’s presence and power

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What Speaking in Tongues Is Not

To understand the gift, we must also clear away the misunderstandings.

a. Tongues is not proof of salvation

• Nowhere does Scripture teach that tongues is required to be saved. Salvation is by grace through faith in Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) alone (Ephesians 2:8–9). Tongues is a gift—not a requirement.

b. Tongues is not given to every believer

• Some believers receive this gift; others receive different gifts (1 Corinthians 12:29–30). Paul explicitly asks, “Do all speak in tongues?” and the implied answer is no.

c. Tongues is not uncontrollable

• The Spirit doesn’t override a believer’s will. Paul says, “The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Corinthians 14:32). The gift operates in order, not chaos.

d. Tongues is not meaningless noise

• In Acts 2, tongues were recognizable human languages. In 1 Corinthians 13:1, they may also include heavenly languages: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels...” Either way, they are Spirit-inspired speech, not emotional noise or random syllables.

e. Tongues is not the same as praying in the Spirit

• All believers are commanded to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20), but not all believers speak in tongues. Praying in the Spirit is broader, it’s Spirit-led prayer. Tongues is one expression of Spirit-led prayer—not the only one.

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Biblical Examples of Tongues

Old Testament Foreshadowing

While tongues as a gift appears in the New Testament, the Old Testament contains prophetic shadows:

a. Isaiah 28:11: “With stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people.” Paul quotes this in 1 Corinthians 14:21, connecting it directly to tongues.

b. Tower of Babel (Genesis 11): YHWH used languages as a sign of judgment. At Pentecost, YHWH uses languages as a sign of redemption.

c. Moses’ wish (Numbers 11:29): “I wish all the YHWH’s people were prophets.” This anticipates the widespread outpouring of the Spirit in the New Covenant.

New Testament Fulfillment

a. Pentecost—Acts 2

• The Spirit fills the disciples.
• They speak in known human languages.
• The purpose: to proclaim the works of YHWH to the nations.

This is tongues as sign and proclamation.

b. Gentiles in Caesarea—Acts 10

• Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit.
• They speak in tongues and magnify YHWH.
• This confirms that salvation has come to the nations.

This is tongues as confirmation of inclusion.

c. Disciples of John the Baptist—Acts 19

• They receive the Holy Spirit through Paul’s ministry.
• They speak in tongues and prophesy.

This is tongues as empowerment for ministry.

d. Corinthian church—1 Corinthians 12–14

• Tongues is a regular part of their worship life.
• Paul gives instructions to ensure order and edification.

This is tongues as ongoing spiritual gifting.

Instructions from Scripture About Tongues

Paul gives the most detailed teaching in 1 Corinthians 12–14. His instructions are pastoral, corrective, and encouraging.

a. Tongues must be used in love

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1

• Without love, tongues is “a noisy gong.” Love is the context for all spiritual gifts.

b. Tongues must edify the church

“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵ Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. ⁶ Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ⁷ If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? ⁸ And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? ⁹ So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, ¹¹ but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. ¹² So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.” – 1 Corinthians 14:4-12

• Language is organized, not chaotic, each sound has a specific meaning—whether the language of humans or angels. Speaking in tongues is speaking a language you do not know, it’s not making unintelligible gibberish. If used publicly, tongues must be interpreted.
• Interpretation turns tongues into prophecy-like edification.

c. Tongues is primarily directed to God

“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.“– 1 Corinthians 14:2

• It is prayer, praise, or thanksgiving.

d. Tongues should be orderly (1 Corinthians 14:27–28)

“If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.“– 1 Corinthians 14:27-28

• Two or three at most in a gathering
• One at a time
• Must have an interpreter
• If no interpreter, the speaker should remain silent in the assembly and speak to YHWH privately. An interpreter is someone who speaks the language, as no one speaks the language of angels, any speaking in tongues that are not a recognized human language is for private worship only.

e. Tongues is a gift to desire, but not to demand

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy” – 1 Corinthians 14:1

• Paul says:
  • “Pursue love”
  • “Desire spiritual gifts”
  • “Especially prophecy”

• Tongues is good, but prophecy is more beneficial for the gathered church.

f. Tongues builds up the individual believer

“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” – 1 Corinthians 14:4

• Private tongues is a gift of personal strengthening, prayer, and communion with YHWH.

g. Tongues is not forbidden

“So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But all things should be done decently and in order.“– 1 Corinthians 14:39-40

• Paul’s message is balanced: Do not abuse the gift (chaos). Do not neglect the gift (fear or misunderstanding). Use the gift rightly.

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The Purpose and Beauty of the Gift

Tongues isn’t the greatest gift, but it is a good gift—one that reflects the creativity, diversity, and power of the Holy Spirit.

Tongues isn’t a novelty. It’s not a badge of spirituality. It’s not a spiritual trophy.

It’s a gift of grace with real purpose:

a. To strengthen the believer

“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself…” (1 Corinthians 14:4)

• When done in private, speaking in tongues can strengthen the faith of the believer.

b. To build up the church when interpreted

• Tongues + interpretation = prophecy. This strengthens the whole body.

c. To serve as a sign for unbelievers

“In the Law it is written, ‘By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.’ ²² Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.” – 1 Corinthians 14:21-22

• At Pentecost, tongues drew the nations to hear the Gospel.

d. To unite the global church across languages and cultures

“While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ ‘Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’” – Acts 10:44-47

• When the Gentile believers began speaking in tongues, it showed the Jewish (called the circumcised) believers that the Gospel is for the whole world, not just the Jews.

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The Heart of the Matter

Tongues isn’t about spiritual superiority. It isn’t about emotionalism. It isn’t about pressure or performance. Tongues is about relationship.

It’s about the Holy Spirit helping us pray, praise, and worship in ways that transcend our limitations.

It’s a gift that points us to the greatness of YHWH, the nearness of the Holy Spirit, and the beauty of the Gospel.

The gift of tongues isn’t something to fear. It isn’t something to divide over. It isn’t something to elevate above other gifts.

It’s simply one of the many ways the Holy Spirit strengthens the believer and glorifies Messiah Yeshua.

If you have the gift, use it with humility, love, and order. If you don’t have the gift, you lack nothing in Messiah. If you desire the gift, ask YHWH freely, without pressure or striving.

Above all, pursue love. Pursue Messiah. Pursue the presence of the Holy Spirit. And let every gift He gives be used for His glory and the building up of His people.