'Language' in the Bible
"I have said these things to you in figurative language. The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
Jesus' disciples said, "Well, now you're speaking plainly and not using figurative language.
This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that this field is called in their language Hakeldama, that is, "The Field of Blood".)
When that sound came, a crowd quickly gathered, startled because each one heard the disciples speaking in his own language.
So how is it that each one of us hears them speaking in his own native language:
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us!"
The tribune gave him permission, and Paul, standing on the steps, motioned for the people to be silent. When everyone had quieted down, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language:
"All of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice asking me in the Hebrew language, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me? It is hurting you to keep on kicking against the cattle prods.'
For this is the language of the promise: "At this time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come and tell you about God's secret with rhetorical language or wisdom.
For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit.
The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church.
Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up.
In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You'll be talking into the air!
If I don't know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.
Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it.
For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.
But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.
What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding.
If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret.
They sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered. With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
After these things, I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
It was allowed to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.
Then I saw another angel flying overhead with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth to every nation, tribe, language, and people.