Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
My Notes
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Gill's Exposition
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice,.... The force and power of a language, the signification of it, the ideas its words convey, but only hear the sound of it:
I shall be to him that…
Barnes' Notes
The meaning of the voice - Of the language that is uttered, or the sounds that are made. I shall be unto him ... - What I say will be unintelligible to him, and what he says will be unintelligible to…
Adam Clarke
If I know not the meaning of the voice - Την δυναμιν της φωνης, The power and signification of the language.
I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian - I shall appear to him, and he to me, as a…
In this paragraph he goes on to show how vain a thing the ostentation of speaking unknown and unintelligible language must be. It was altogether unedifying and unprofitable (Co1 14:6): If I come to…
Cambridge Bible
the meaning of the voice Literally, its force.
a barbarian This word is here used in its original signification of one whose speech is unintelligible,
unto me Literally, in me, i.e. in my estimation.
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