If someone can't understand what your are saying when you speak in tounges are you just babbling?

Question

tounges are only spoken three times in the bible.

Why did they speak in these tounges - I Corinthians 1:22 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom."

Acts 2:5

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven."

Those Jews were there for the feast days (Pentecost is a Jewish feast), and they were unbelieving because they had never even heard of Jesus. Peter was getting ready to preach and the disciples were getting ready to witness. The tongues they spoke (the actual languages of the visitors) was a "sign" that their message was true!



Acts 2:7
"And they were all amazed and marvelled...how hear we every man in our own tongue...?"

There were only two other cases of tounges being spoken in the bible, in both cases every one was able to understand these tounges in their language.

So does this mean if someone speaks in tounges and I can't understand them they are just babbling incoherently?

They are not talking in a dead language anyone who speaks any language can understand the "true" tounges


And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Acts 2:4-6

Answer 1

It has been my experience that people who seek this 'gift' are prideful, and want to show everyone else how the Holy Spirit likes them best.

Answer 2

The phrase "speaking in the tongues" refers to languages of the ancient world; Greek, Hebrew and roman mainly, but others as well. The Apostles did not speak every language at once but rather they were just multi-lingual.
If someone is babbling incoherently that is all they are doing. Continue reading Paul's letters (Epistles) and you will find where he writes about this behavior in "the pagans."

Answer 3

Yes it is babbling.
The real issue here is that people think and they have been lied to by these so-called ministers of God into believing that speaking in tongues is something other than speaking a language other than what is here on this earth.
On the day of Pentecost there where many people from other lands that where Jews and they spoke the language of the land from, which they came from and they all here Peter in their language.

This “Pentecostal” speaking in tongues, which we have today goes against the Word of God and is yet another “sham” of the father of lies.

Peace and Grace
David

Answer 4

I think the disciples spoke in tongues when they were blessed with the Holy Spirit so that the various races of people listening to them could understand them in their own language.How else do you think they could preach to SO many people?And plus,do you honestly believe God would give you a useless gift?If it's not gonna help anyone than why would it be called a gift?Babbling doesn't sound useful to me.

Answer 5

Paradox Creator, To answer your question simply ... yes!

But that was being frivolous. Let's get serious.

The Greek word for "tongues" as you are thinking is DIALEKTOS. Doesn't that sound like an English word to you? How about dialect. Tongues as mentioned in the Bible is nothing more than a known language that existed then. On the day of Pentecost God gave to some the supernatural gift of speaking in another language so others could understand. When I say supernatural, I mean they didn't have to study the language like we do ... they just could speak it.

The gift of tongues was to build up the early church and was done away with after awhile.

I Corinthians 13:8-13 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; (whether there are tongues, they will cease;) whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirrow, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three ; but the greatet of these is love.
The only permanent gifts are: faith, hope, and love. (Love being the most desirous of the three.)

Now to address your reasoning that "tongues" were only used 3 times in the Bible.

Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabs - we hear them speaking our "own tongues" the wonderful works of God

Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.....

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Today "tongues" is not used in the biblical sense.

I Cor. 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 in tongues), unless indeed he interprets, (that the church may receive edification). This is the reason for the gift of tongues (to edify the church).

I Cor. 14:6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?

I Cor. 14-20 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, (but my understanding is unfruitful). 15 What is the result then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, 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 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, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

I Cor. 14:22, 23 Therefore tongues are for a sign, (not to those who believe but to unbelievers); but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place and all speak with tongues, (and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?)

So, when people speak in "tongues" today ... yes, it is just babble.

Answer 6

English is english. If someone who can only speak chinese was standing in your group who spoke only english that one person can't understand you either. What you are saying goes for that person too. Languages are languages not just babble because you don't understand what they are saying.

Answer 7

I'd be very worried if I could understand them. Thats some scary stuff.

Answer 8

I have never heard it so I dont know

Answer 9

Shamalama Ding Dong?

Answer 10

when they speak in tongs their supposed to be talking in dead languages,so yes no one understands them