What Is Speaking in Tongues? And What Does It Mean to Pray in the Spirit?
Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit in which a believer speaks a language they never learned, as the Spirit gives them words. Paul calls it speaking "with the languages of men and of angels" (1 Corinthians 13:1). Sometimes it is a human language others recognize. Often it is a prayer language between a believer and God. When it is spoken publicly and interpreted, it becomes a word from God that builds up the whole church.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
1 Corinthians 12:7-10, World English Bible
Where Tongues Began: Pentecost
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came on the disciples gathered in Jerusalem.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
Acts 2:4, World English Bible
Jews from every nation were in the city for the feast, and each heard the disciples praising God in his own language. They were amazed: "we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!" (Acts 2:11). Years later, while Peter was still preaching to the household of Cornelius, the Spirit fell on Gentiles and "they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God" (Acts 10:46). Tongues was one of the signs that the promise of the Spirit was for everyone.
Three Ways Tongues Show Up in Scripture
1. Prayer and praise to God. "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" (1 Corinthians 14:2). Most tongues are personal. The believer is talking with God, and it builds up their own spirit (1 Corinthians 14:4).
2. A sign to those who don't yet believe. Paul says tongues are "for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving" (1 Corinthians 14:22). At Pentecost, unbelievers heard God praised in their own languages, and three thousand people came to faith.
3. A message for the church, with interpretation. When a tongue is spoken out loud in a gathering, Paul wants it interpreted so everyone understands and is built up. Interpretation of tongues is its own gift of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10). Together they work like prophecy.
Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
1 Corinthians 14:13-15, World English Bible
A Story of Tongues and Interpretation
Years ago I was visiting Christ for the Nations church in Dallas. During worship I received a word in tongues, and I spoke it out. The pastor gave the interpretation. It was about sanctification, and about the Lord strengthening His people's spiritual armor.
After he shared it, the pastor invited anyone the word had touched to come forward. About three quarters of the room came. Then he said he believed the word was also a sign for someone who didn't yet know Jesus, so he gave an invitation to receive Christ. A man came forward and was saved that day. That is exactly what Paul describes.
Another time, I was in a prayer meeting where the team was singing together in tongues. As they sang, I sensed the meaning: "He is coming." When they finished, they began to sing a chorus of one word: "Come!" They were responding to their own prayer without knowing what they had been singing. The Spirit was praying through them.
What Does It Mean to Pray in the Spirit?
Praying in the Spirit means praying with the Holy Spirit's help, led by Him rather than by our own understanding alone. It includes praying in tongues, but it is bigger than that. Paul says, "I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 14:15). Both matter.
In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
Romans 8:26-27, World English Bible
When we don't know what to pray, the Spirit does. Paul tells us to pray "at all times in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18), and Jude calls it building ourselves up in our most holy faith (Jude 20). Praying in tongues is one of the simplest ways to keep praying when your own words run out. It keeps your heart turned toward God through the day.
Does Everyone Speak in Tongues?
Paul thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than all the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 14:18), and he said, "I desire to have you all speak with other languages" (1 Corinthians 14:5). He also said the Spirit gives gifts "to each one separately as he desires" (1 Corinthians 12:11), and that love matters more than any gift (1 Corinthians 13). Sincere believers understand this differently, and none of us should look down on another.
What I can say is that the gift is good, it is available, and God loves to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). If you want to grow in the gifts, ask. Paul says to "earnestly desire spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:1).
How to Begin
Ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Tongues usually come as part of being filled with the Spirit. Read How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit.
Yield your voice. At Pentecost they spoke "as the Spirit gave them the ability." The Spirit gives the words, but you do the speaking. Often it starts with a few syllables that feel small. Don't despise small beginnings.
Use it in private prayer first. Pray in tongues in your car, on a walk, or in your quiet time. Then pray with your understanding too.
Keep love at the center. In a gathering, follow Paul's guidance: be considerate, let things be done in order, and look for interpretation so others are built up (1 Corinthians 14:26-33, 40).
Go deeper. Start the free 10-day Preparing for Outpouring Bible plan to make room for the Holy Spirit, read Understanding the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and The Baptism of Water and Fire, or learn who the Holy Spirit is.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain).
