Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Languages?
14 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Languages in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about languages. This collection of 18 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Languages
- 1Genesis 11:1
“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. language: Heb. lip. speech: Heb. words”
KJV - 2Exodus 4:10
“And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore , nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. eloquent: Heb. a man of words heretofore: Heb. since yesterday, nor since the third day”
KJV - 3Deuteronomy 28:49
“The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; understand: Heb. hear”
KJV - 4Nehemiah 13:24
“And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. could: Heb. they discerned not to speak of each: Heb. of people and people”
KJV - 5Psalms 19:1
“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork .”
KJV - 6Isaiah 28:11
“For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. stammering: Heb. stammerings of lip will: or, he hath spoken”
KJV - 7Jeremiah 5:15
“Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.”
KJV - 8Daniel 1:4
“Children in whom was no blemish , but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.”
KJV - 9Zephaniah 3:9
“For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. language: Heb. lip consent: Heb. shoulder”
KJV - 10Acts 2:1
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Languages? (9 Verses)
“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. language: Heb. lip. speech: Heb. words”
“And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore , nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. eloquent: Heb. a man of words heretofore: Heb. since yesterday, nor since the third day”
“The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; understand: Heb. hear”
“And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. could: Heb. they discerned not to speak of each: Heb. of people and people”
“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork .”
“For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. stammering: Heb. stammerings of lip will: or, he hath spoken”
“Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.”
“Children in whom was no blemish , but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.”
“For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. language: Heb. lip consent: Heb. shoulder”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Languages? (5 Verses)
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
“(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)”
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number , of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Languages
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about languages. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about languages and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about languages is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on languages needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about languages with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about languages, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Languages?
You have studied 14 verses about languages. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.