Bible Verses About Language

The whole earth was of one language and of one speech.

As they traveled east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.

They said one to another, “Come, let’s make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

They said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let’s make ourselves a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth.”

The LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.

The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do.

Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

So the LORD scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city.

Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. From there, the LORD scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.

They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?

How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.

They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;

but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.

For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?