confused noise.* From this it is inferred that the speaking with tongues was not the gift of speaking foreign languages. This would make Paul wish (v. 5) that all the Corinthians would utter unmeaning sounds, and give thanks that he pro- duced more such jargon than any of them ! It is plain from what foUows, as well as from the drift of the whole discourse, that the simple point of the analogy is, that as we cannot know what is piped or harped, or be benefited by it, unless we can discriminate the sounds emitted ; so we cannot be benefited by listening to one who speaks a language which we do not understand. It is not the nature of the gift, but the folly of the use made of it, which is the point which the apostle has in view.
8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle ?
This is a confirmation of the last clause of the preceding verse. The sound emitted does not produce its proper efiect if it be unintelligible or micertain. This teaches us the point of the whole illustration. The trumpet may sound the battle call, but if that call is not understood, who will heed it ? So the speaker with tongues may announce the most important truths, he may unfold mysteries, or pour forth praises as from a harp of gold, what can it profit those who do not under- stand him ?
9. So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken ? for ye shall speak into the air.
This is the application of the preceding illustration, and affords another proof of what the apostle intended to illustrate. It was not the nature of the sounds uttered, but their unintel- ligibleness to the hearer, which was to be considered. By the tongue^ i. e. by means of the tongue as the organ of speech. Words easy to be understood^ or rather, an intelligible dis-
* Acsi diceret : Non potest homo dare citharae aut tibiae animam : vocem tamen affingit ita temperatam, ut discerni queat ; quam igitur absurdum est, homines ipsos intelligentiae praeditos confusum nescio quid sonare ? — Calvin. This would seem to mean that the speaker with tongues uttered a confused noise, with no more meaning in it than thrumming on a harp.