In church, when someone speaks in "tongues" can another person know or interpret what is being said?

Answer 1

It can be interpreted if it is edifying God. God will also have an interpreter in the church.

However, if this is a tongue that is private between you and God, noone can interpret.

I Corinthians 12:10 - To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Answer 2

Yes, according to the Bible:

Apart from the different opinions, real tongues could be interpreted, see what Paul says: "Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may INTERPRET", and also there may be someone else who interprets: "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and LETone INTERPRET." (v.27), the interpretation is a GIFT from the Holy Spirit:
"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; .... to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: " (1 Cor. 12:8,10)

Also it has occurred in the experience of some churches, nowadays.

Answer 3

Some people believe that one speaks in tongues another inteprets. they say these are seperate 'gifts'. But Corinthians uses two greek words for the 'to one' section where the manifestations of the spirit are given. The words trnaslate to 'one of the same kind' and 'another of a different kind' and they relate to the word 'profit'. 'For to one profit' would be more accurate. So that the nine manifestations listed are each given or divided to each man and each is for a different profit. So there is one spirit but nine manifestations, each person gets the gift which is the one spirit from god. This spirit then has nine manifestations or direct abilities. These manifestations are all given to the same person. So tongues and interpretation of tongues is done by the one and the same person becuase it is operated by the one and the self same spirit. But people have misunderstood this and thus the idea that one interpets and one speaks in tongues. When you check this book in the Greek you start to see whole truths like this.

To answer your question then, the one who speaks in a tongue should also believe to bring forth the interpretation of tongues so that the church can be built up.

It also says that if he lacks the will to bring forth the interpretation then he should remain silent and speak only to God. This I have understood by experience to mean that I can speak in tongues without using my mouth. It is by the spirit and needs no physical work.

If another tries to give the interpretation then it is actually the manifestation of prophecy they are using.

As for what is being said, the interpretation is not a direct translation of the tongue spoken. It is the sum or gist of what is said.

The word gifts in this book, when it is actually used in the greek, actually translates as charismata or 'grace abilites'. It is speaking of God's grace as a gift to men and not the gift of holy spirit itself.

Not only that but the word 'to every man' actually translates to 'to each man' in verse 7.

Hope that helps some. God bless.

Answer 4

Since the ability to "speak in tongues" is a gift of the Holy Spirit, it would require another gift of the same Spirit to be given to another person to interpret the original message.

Answer 5

Well if that's the case........no wonder the Church doesn't prosper in Prophecy.....Jan Checker was supposed to interpret Tongues at Lighthouse Church Geraldton. But I interpret too, and she blatantly lied about the interpretation. So I called them a Pastors Fraternity.......meaning a pack of people pleasers NOT God pleasers. Anyway I don't have any Fellowship since that...8 years

Answer 6

In Acts 2 :6-11 The Bible DEFINES speaking in tongues...
Now when this was noised aroad, the multitudes came together, and were confounded, Because that every man heard them speak in his own LANGUAGE. And they were amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own TONGUE, wherein we were born?...Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our TONGUES the wonderful works of God.

This is the first time we read about the gift of tongues. Thus it is clear that when the Bible speaks of Speaking in Tongues it is making reference to LANGUAGES not estactic utterances.
The word is already confirmed.

In 1 Corinthians 14:19 Yet in the Church I had rather speak 5 words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than 10,000 words in an UNKNOWN tongue.

The gift of speaking in tongues ceased when that which is perfect came , meaning Christ in 1Corinthians the 13th chapter. The purpose of these gifts were to confirm the word, now the word being confirmed the need for this gift ceased. Hebrews 2:1-4 2Peter 1:3; 2 John verse 9

Tongues have already served their purpose and have ceased.


Christian in Pa. (see profile, feel free to contact me)

Answer 7

Sometimes the holy spirit will give someone else the interpretation of the tongue. When you are given the interpretation, you are suppose to share it with the congregation, first getting permission from the minister in charge. In most cases, there will be no interpretation of the tongue.

Answer 8

The gift is from the Lord, but truly is for the hearers, not the speakers.

So many factions of religion pride themselves on the passage in Acts, and the passage in Corinthians. However, the points in time when the gift of tongues (or "languages") were used were where multiple nationalities were present. Corinth was a port city, and had many foreigners passing through. The second chapter in Acts depicts the many nations that were present.

In America, we have the common language of English. Why would God, with as much common sense and wisdom that he bestows on us, use anything but our common form of communication for spiritual purposes?

If God sends you to Japan as a missionary, he could fully give you the gift of tongues - But the manifestation of the gift would be evident through the hearers - You could be speaking in English, and they would hear your words in Japanese. That is the gift of tongues.

Answer 9

personally i feel this can be viewed from a couple of angles.One, speaking tongues is mentioned in the bible and it is true and it is possible to speak in tongues even now as it used to be the biblical days.
Secondly, people can simply cry out in the middle of the church or may be compelled to speak garbage just out of feelings and their day to day personal situations.I used to attend a church where the priest used to discern weather it is a tongue or just bluff and he used to strike it down if it feels it is not...i guess pastors/priests should step in and make the calls..

Answer 10

Yes. Some have the gift of speaking in tongues and others have the gift of interpretation.