40 Bible Verses about Language

Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more that ye may prophesy. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the congregation may receive edification.

If any man speaks in a tongue, be according to two, or at the most three, and in succession. And let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in an assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.

Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, says LORD. It is a mighty nation. It is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou know not, nor understand what they say.

LORD will bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flies, a nation whose tongue thou shall not understand,

No, but by [men of] strange lips and with another tongue he will speak to this people,

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons. They will speak in new tongues.

And Paul having laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues, and prophesied.

and to another, workings of miracles, and to another, prophecy, and to another, discerning of spirits, and to a different man, kinds of tongues, and to another, the interpretation of tongues.

And they were amazed and marveled, saying to each other, Behold, are not all these men who speak Galileans? And how do we each hear our own language in which we were born?

For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

If therefore the whole congregation comes together in the same place, and all speak in tongues, and unlearned or unbelieving men come in, will they not say that ye are mad?

For he who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God, for no man hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks to men edification and encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the congregation. read more.
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more that ye may prophesy. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the congregation may receive edification. But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I benefit you, unless I would speak to you either in a revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in doctrine? Likewise lifeless things that give a sound, whether flute or harp, if they give no distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or harped? For also if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also ye, unless ye give understandable speech by the tongue, how will that which is spoken be known? For ye will be talking into the air. Since there are perhaps, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance. If therefore I know not the force of the voice, I will be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. So also ye, since ye are zealots of spirits, seek so that ye may excel for the edification of the church.

From these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, every man according to his tongue, according to their families, in their nations.

These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.

These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their tongues, in their lands, according to their nations.

Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the la

Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

and Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya along Cyrene, and those Roman aliens, including Jews and proselytes,

He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony when he went out over the land of Egypt, [where] I heard a language that I knew not.

When Israel went forth out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live forever. Tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.

Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And do not speak with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people

And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian [character], and set forth in the Syrian [tongu

And LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. And now nothing will be withheld from them, which they propose to do.

And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech.

And when we all fell to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why do thou persecute me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.

Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, Hear ye the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

And it became known to all those dwelling at Jerusalem, so as to call that field in their own dialect, Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.)

And they sing a new song, saying, Thou are worthy to take the book and to open the seals of it, because thou were killed and purchased us from God by thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And do not speak with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people

And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian [character], and set forth in the Syrian [tongu

But he again denied it. And after a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, Surely thou are from them, for thou are a Galilean, and thy accent is similar.

And the multitudes who saw what Paul did, lifted up their voice, speaking Lycaonian, The gods came down to us, having become like men.

And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and they had slime for mortar. read more.
And they said, Come, let us build a city for us, and a tower, and its top in the heavens. And let us make a name for us, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the sons of men built. And LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. And now nothing will be withheld from them, which they propose to do. Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand each other's speech. So LORD scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because LORD there confounded the language of all the earth, and from there LORD scattered them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

From these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, every man according to his tongue, according to their families, in their nations.

These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.

These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their tongues, in their lands, according to their nations.

And Paul having laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues, and prophesied.

Then they laid hands on them, and they received Holy Spirit.

Therefore many of the Jews read this title, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, in Latin.

And how do we each hear our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, and Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya along Cyrene, and those Roman aliens, including Jews and proselytes, read more.
Cretes and Arabians. We hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving. But prophesying is not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.

and to another, workings of miracles, and to another, prophecy, and to another, discerning of spirits, and to a different man, kinds of tongues, and to another, the interpretation of tongues.

Therefore many of the Jews read this title, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, in Latin.

And there was also an inscription over him written in letters, in Greek and Latin and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

and to another, workings of miracles, and to another, prophecy, and to another, discerning of spirits, and to a different man, kinds of tongues, and to another, the interpretation of tongues.

If therefore I know not the force of the voice, I will be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.

Since there are perhaps, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance.

and as Paul was going to be brought into the fort, he says to the chief captain, Is it permitted for me to speak to thee? And he said, Thou know Greek?

And there was also an inscription over him written in letters, in Greek and Latin and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

and Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya along Cyrene, and those Roman aliens, including Jews and proselytes,

When Israel went forth out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

And after a little while those who stood, having approached, said to Peter, Surely thou also are of them, for thy accent even makes thee apparent.

then they said to him, Say now Shibboleth, and he said Sibboleth, for he could not frame to pronounce it right, then they laid hold on him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim forty-two

And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and they had slime for mortar. And they said, Come, let us build a city for us, and a tower, and its top in the heavens. And let us make a name for us, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. read more.
And LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the sons of men built. And LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. And now nothing will be withheld from them, which they propose to do.

So LORD scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because LORD there confounded the language of all the earth, and from there LORD scattered them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

While Peter still spoke these sayings, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. And the faithful men of circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because also on the Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out. For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

And they did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them.

For thou are not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel, not to many peoples of a strange speech, and of a hard language, whose words thou cannot understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken to thee.

Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand each other's speech.

And they were amazed and marveled, saying to each other, Behold, are not all these men who speak Galileans? And how do we each hear our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, read more.
and Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya along Cyrene, and those Roman aliens, including Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians. We hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.

And there appeared to them dividing tongues, as of fire, and they settled upon each one of them. And they were all filled of Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them to declare.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons. They will speak in new tongues.

And the multitudes who saw what Paul did, lifted up their voice, speaking Lycaonian, The gods came down to us, having become like men.

youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace. And that he should teach them the learning and

and as Paul was going to be brought into the fort, he says to the chief captain, Is it permitted for me to speak to thee? And he said, Thou know Greek?

And there was also an inscription over him written in letters, in Greek and Latin and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, and Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya along Cyrene, and those Roman aliens, including Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians. We hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.

Cretes and Arabians. We hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.

And LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. And now nothing will be withheld from them, which they propose to do.

And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech.

And the multitudes who saw what Paul did, lifted up their voice, speaking Lycaonian, The gods came down to us, having become like men.

And their sons spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace. And that he should teach them the learning and

After these things, I looked and lo, a great multitude, which none could number, out of every nation, and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their ha

For I [know] their works and their thoughts. [The time] comes, that I will gather all nations and tongues, and they shall come, and shall see my glory.

From these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, every man according to his tongue, according to their families, in their nations.

These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.