For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue
Or with tongues, as some copies and the Ethiopic version read:
Dr. Lightfoot thinks, that the Hebrew tongue, which was become a
dead language, and understood but by few, is here meant, and that
not without reason; seeing the public prayers, preaching, and
singing of psalms among the Jews, were in this languages
F24; in imitation of whom, such
ministers, who had the gift of speaking this language, read the
Scriptures, preached, prayed, and sung psalms in it, which were
no ways to the edification of the people, who understood it not;
upon which account the apostle recommends prophesying, praying,
and singing, in a language that was understood: otherwise he
speaketh not unto men;
to the understanding, profit, and edification of men: but unto
God: to his praise and glory, and he only knowing, who knows all
languages, and every word in the tongue what is said; excepting
himself, unless there should be any present capable of
interpreting:
for no man understandeth him:
or "heareth him": that is, hears him, so as to understand him; he
may hear a sound, but he cannot tell the meaning of it, and so it
is of no use and advantage to him:
howbeit in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries;
though under the influence and by the extraordinary gift of the
Spirit he has, and to his own Spirit and understanding, and with
great affection and devotion within himself, he speaks of the
deep things of God, and the mysteries of his grace, the most
glorious truths of the Gospel, yet the meaning of his voice and
words not being known, he is a barbarian to them that hear him;
and though what he delivers are truths of the greatest
importance, they are a mere jargon to others, being
unintelligible.
F24 Vid. Gloss. in T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 3. 1. & in Yoma, fol. 20. 2.