Gifts of the Spirit · Manifestation (1 Cor 12) · Interpretation of Tongues
hermēneia glōssōn · interpretation of tongues · διερμηνεύω, to interpret, render the sense
the Spirit-given turning of a tongue into understanding — so the whole church is built up
One phrase · the rendering of a tongue
The Greek ἑρμηνεία (and the verb διερμηνεύω) means to interpret, to translate, to convey the sense — the same family of words behind “hermeneutics.” It is the gift that takes a message spoken in a tongue and makes its meaning plain to the assembly, so that all may understand and respond.
It is the necessary partner of the public gift of tongues (see the companion study). Beautifully, the same verb describes the risen Christ who “interpreted in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27): interpretation opens what was closed, and reveals meaning. Here its whole aim is that the church, not only the speaker, is edified (1 Cor 14:5).
Named beside tongues; needed so the body is built up; the order it follows in the assembly; the prayer to interpret; and the result — a tongue made equal to prophecy for edification.
The gift that completes the public message.
… ἑτέρῳ δὲ γένη γλωσσῶν, ἄλλῳ δὲ ἑρμηνεία γλωσσῶν
… allō de hermēneia glōssōn
…to another kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
Paul lists it last of the nine, right after tongues — and that placement is the point. Where the Spirit gives a public tongue, He also provides for its interpretation, so the gift can serve the whole gathering, not only the one who speaks.
So the church can understand — and say “Amen.”
… πῶς ἐρεῖ τὸ Ἀμὴν … ἐπειδὴ τί λέγεις οὐκ οἶδεν;
… pōs erei to Amēn …
…how will he say “Amen” … since he does not know what you are saying?
An uninterpreted tongue builds up only the speaker (14:4); the rest cannot agree to what they cannot understand. Paul would rather speak “five words with my mind” than ten thousand in a tongue, if the church is to learn (14:19). The body must be edified.
In turn, and let one interpret.
… κατὰ δύο ἢ τὸ πλεῖστον τρεῖς … καὶ εἷς διερμηνευέτω· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ᾖ … σιγάτω
… kai heis diermēneuetō; ean de mē ē … sigatō
…two or at most three, in turn, and let one interpret; but if there is none, let him keep silent.
The rule is plain and orderly: a few, in turn, with someone to interpret; and if no interpreter is present, the tongue is kept silent in the gathering and spoken privately to God (14:28). Interpretation is what makes a public tongue fitting at all.
Seek the gift, so the message can serve all.
διὸ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ
… proseuchesthō hina diermēneuē
therefore, let the one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
The interpreter may be the speaker or another in the room. Either way, the gift is to be sought in prayer — desired not for display but so the Spirit’s message reaches everyone. Like all the gifts, it is given by the Spirit “as He wills” (12:11).
An interpreted tongue builds up the whole church.
… ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ
… hina hē ekklēsia oikodomēn labē
…unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.
Interpreted, a tongue does for the church what prophecy does — it builds up. So Paul can sing and pray “with the spirit” and “with the mind also” (14:15). The end of the gift is understanding, worship, and a body strengthened together.
Interpretation guards against two errors. Without it, public tongues become confusion — an outsider walks in and thinks the church has lost its mind. But the gift can also be counterfeited: a vague, showy, or manipulative “interpretation” that no one tests. The cure for both is the same — order, intelligibility, and the weighing of every word.
… καὶ πάντες λαλῶσιν γλώσσαις … οὐκ ἐροῦσιν ὅτι μαίνεσθε;
… ouk erousin hoti mainesthe?
…and all speak in tongues … will they not say that you are out of your minds?
Tongues poured out publicly with no interpretation breeds disorder and drives away the outsider. The answer is never to forbid the gift (14:39) but to interpret it — order serves love, and “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (14:33).
… καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν
… kai hoi alloi diakrinetōsan
…and let the others weigh what is said.
An interpretation is to be weighed, just like prophecy — does it edify, does it agree with Scripture, does it exalt Jesus? Test everything; hold fast the good (1 Thess 5:21). A genuine interpretation builds up and points to Christ; a false one is quietly set aside.
This quiet, completing gift has one beautiful purpose: that no one in the room is left outside. It takes a message the Spirit gives in a tongue and renders its sense, so the whole church can understand, respond, and say “Amen.” Desire it where tongues are spoken; exercise it in love and order; weigh it as you would prophecy. And let its single aim be the building up of the body and the glory of Jesus.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:5 · THE WHOLE POINT
ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ
…unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.
Let all things be done for building up (1 Cor 14:26) — the rule that governs every gift, and the heart of interpretation: that the whole body, together, is strengthened.
As with the other manifestation gifts, believers differ on whether this operates today; this study expects it still. Note what interpretation is: not necessarily a word-for-word translation, but the conveying of the sense of what was spoken (the word ἑρμηνεία means to render meaning). Its length or form need not match the tongue exactly; its job is to make the Spirit’s message understandable.
And interpretation is weighed, exactly like prophecy (1 Cor 14:29). Guard against the showy or manipulative “interpretation” that no one tests, or that draws attention to the interpreter. A true interpretation builds up the church, agrees with Scripture, and exalts Jesus. The governing rule over tongues, interpretation, and every gift is the same: “let all things be done for edification” (14:26), decently and in order (14:40).
Paul’s test for a public gift is simple: can the rest of the room join in? An uninterpreted tongue leaves everyone but the speaker outside, unable even to say “Amen” to the thanksgiving (1 Cor 14:16–17). Interpretation changes that in an instant — it turns private edification into corporate edification, so the whole body shares the message and worships together. That is the quiet greatness of this gift: it includes everyone.
The gift conveys the sense of a tongue, not necessarily a word-for-word rendering — which is why an interpretation may be longer or shorter than the message it carries. The same verb describes the risen Jesus “interpreting” the Scriptures about Himself on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:27): opening what was hidden, revealing the meaning, pointing to Christ. And like prophecy, an interpretation is to be weighed — by Scripture, by edification, and by whether it exalts Jesus.
| Theme | Key texts |
|---|---|
| Named beside tongues | 1 Cor 12:10, 30 |
| Why it is needed | 1 Cor 14:2–4, 16–19 |
| The order to follow | 1 Cor 14:27–28, 40 |
| Pray to interpret | 1 Cor 14:13, 15 |
| The result — edification | 1 Cor 14:5, 26; Luke 24:27 |
| Weighed, like prophecy | 1 Cor 14:23, 29; 1 Thess 5:21 |