Anyone ever interpret or heard an interpretation of tongues?

[TravisD]

Good day everyone!

I'm creating this thread in hopes that believers out there can share experiences where they have either interpreted or heard an interpretation of spoken tongues during a worship service or similar setting. If I understand Paul correctly in 1 Corinthians 14, speaking in tongues will edify the speaker, but if someone can interpret, it will edify the church. I'm hoping to get some edification as much as possible through an online forum. Please share. Thanks!

 

[Hidden In Him]

Good day everyone!

I'm creating this thread in hopes that believers out there can share experiences where they have either interpreted or heard an interpretation of spoken tongues during a worship service or similar setting. If I understand Paul correctly in 1 Corinthians 14, speaking in tongues will edify the speaker, but if someone can interpret, it will edify the church. I'm hoping to get some edification as much as possible through an online forum. Please share. Thanks!

Well, well. That's a good goal to aspire to.

First, in answer to your question, I heard tongue interpretations numerous times when I was a younger believer. But the gifts are less in operation today than then. That was 25 years ago. I may have heard a few here and there more recently in the midst of a longer service where everyone was caught up in the Spirit. But if so, I wasn't really paying attention enough to tell you if it was an independent prophecy or an interpretation of a tongue.

Very interested to see what sort of responses you would get, however. Hopefully you get sone. I VERY much believe the gifts should be in operation online, though tongues and interpretation would absolutely require some form of live mic'd communication, such as during group Skype sessions or something similar.

When you say, "I'm hoping to get some edification as much as possible through an online forum," is that the kinda thing you were talking about or no? Or do you just want testimonies about people operating in the gift?

 

[TravisD]

When you say, "I'm hoping to get some edification as much as possible through an online forum," is that the kinda thing you were talking about or no? Or do you just want testimonies about people operating in the gift?

I've witnessed people speaking in tongues but of course that does nothing for us if we don't know what is being said. But to hear an interpretation would be amazing. It wouldn't be live of course on this forum but I cannot imagine anyone forgetting an interpretation if they witnessed or performed it first hand. I'm just curious what kind of things are being said when people are speaking in tongues in this day and age. I suppose a lot of it would be personal and mostly pertain to the individual or church at the time but certainly there must be some prophecy that can apply to all of us.

 

[Goatee]

For teaching non believers the Gospel. That is true 'tongues'.

All the wailing and screaming and falling about u see these days is not true tongues!

 

[com7fy8]

One woman I have known has seemed credible. At her church, she would speak in a tongue and then give an interpretation. One time she said, "Flow with Him."

Once, I was talking with a lady in a nursing home. She was Italian and did not speak English to me; so I started speaking national Italian which I learned during my two military service years in Naples. But she did not respond and just moved her face this way and that. Then I experienced my head being made absolutely pure and I spoke words very perfectly, I would say, and pleasantly and they seemed like they could have been Italian dialect . . . since I had heard a few dialects. But I did not recognize any of the words. Then she said something like, "How you speak Italian?"

A couple days later, her daughter told me she did not know national Italian, but only her local dialect which was for an area on the other side of Italy where I had never been. But I have not gotten an obvious interpretation. But if it was God, the LORD said what He said to her.

 

[TravisD]

For teaching non believers the Gospel. That is true 'tongues'.

All the wailing and screaming and falling about u see these days is not true tongues!

My intent is not to debate the validity of speaking in tongues. I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 14. I don't think Paul is making stuff up.

 

[Goatee]

If someone has the true gift of tongues then there should be present someone who can truly interpret that tongue.

 

[Goatee]

My intent is not to debate the validity of speaking in tongues. I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 14. I don't think Paul is making stuff up.

Oh, sorry. Ok

 

[TravisD]

If someone has the true gift of tongues then there should be present someone who can truly interpret that tongue.

I agree... even Paul suggested this for order in worship. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

 

[TravisD]

Oh, sorry. Ok

No worries... a debate would be fun... but this particular forum does not allow debates on this topic. It would have to be under the Christian Theology Forum I believe.

 

[TravisD]

One woman I have known has seemed credible. At her church, she would speak in a tongue and then give an interpretation. One time she said, "Flow with Him."

Once, I was talking with a lady in a nursing home. She was Italian and did not speak English to me; so I started speaking national Italian which I learned during my two military service years in Naples. But she did not respond and just moved her face this way and that. Then I experienced my head being made absolutely pure and I spoke words very perfectly, I would say, and pleasantly and they seemed like they could have been Italian dialect . . . since I had heard a few dialects. But I did not recognize any of the words. Then she said something like, "How you speak Italian?"

A couple days later, her daughter told me she did not know national Italian, but only her local dialect which was for an area on the other side of Italy where I had never been. But I have not gotten an obvious interpretation. But if it was God, the LORD said what He said to her.

Wow! That's pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing. I would guess that on most occasions, speaking in tongues and interpretation is most relevant while it occurred and to the people involved. It's great to hear these testimonies though.

 

[Goatee]

How would you know that the womam is giving the correct interpretation to her own 'speaking in tongues?'

 

[JCFantasy23]

Yep, remember this particular area is debate free about this.

 

[com7fy8]

How would you know that the womam is giving the correct interpretation to her own 'speaking in tongues?'

Yep, remember this particular area is debate free about this.

understood

Goatee, I admit I might not be able to tell if she is really speaking in some real language unknown to her, but I can see if I benefit from what the interpretation says.

In the case I shared . . . again, she said, "Flow with Him." This can mean that Jesus wants us to constantly be going with how He is leading us . . . kind of like a lady in the arms of her loving guy, and she just glides wherever he takes her; and because they love one another and are connected, he doesn't need to say a word

So, it can have a very deep and loving meaning, how Jesus our Groom desires for us to be in union with Him so we always can tell, deeper than words, what He has us doing in such personal sharing with Him.

And our Apostle Paul does say,

"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." (1 Corinthians 6:17)

So, yes, Jesus does want each of us to be in spiritual union with Him so He can share with us so deeply and intimately in His love while also having us move with Him in His personal leading, even all the time >

"The LORD will guide you continually," we have in Isaiah 58:11.

So, Goatee . . . I might not be perfect at knowing if it is the Holy Spirit speaking through someone, but what I got from it is edifying and so encouraging and I can place it with scripture to give part of its meaning. And, like I say, she seemed like a good example for challenging me to get more real in my character with God. So, if the speaker is a good example who already is helping to encourage and correct us, then it is more likely the person won't play around with faking spiritual gifts.

But, like I say, the main thing is I test prayerfully for however God would use an interpretation the way He wants to use it in me

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

For teaching non believers the Gospel. That is true 'tongues'.

All the wailing and screaming and falling about u see these days is not true tongues!

True tongues is what Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 14. Praying in tongues is a private communication between the believer and God. If people kept to Paul's teaching about tongues, you would never hear it spoken in church meetings. You would hear prophecy instead. I agree that most of the wailing, scream and falling about is in the flesh rather than the Spirit. When the Spirit is moving, there is joyful singing, faith-building prophecies, sound doctrinal teaching, and the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit including kindness, gentleness and self control. When someone does speak out in tongues, someone else interprets it so that the people are edified by what is said. I spend most of my prayer times praying in tongues, but you will never hear me speaking it out loud in church because it would be a violation of Paul's instructions. Because of the non-compliance of Paul's teaching we have a lot of misuse of tongues as a result.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

If someone has the true gift of tongues then there should be present someone who can truly interpret that tongue.

True. The gift of tongues is the tongues spoken out in church and is meant to be interpreted. The ability to pray in tongues is the private prayer language that is spoken to God in the private prayer room where there is no one to hear but God. Not everyone who is able to pray privately in tongues has the gifting to give an interpreted tongues message in church.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

How would you know that the woman is giving the correct interpretation to her own 'speaking in tongues?'

The woman speaks out tongues in faith and then gives the interpretation in faith. That is generally accepted in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches where the gift is practiced. The decision whether the tongues and interpretation are appropriate is up to the particular church leaders to determine. If the church leaders approve and acknowledge that what has happened has been a blessing to all, then who is to judge otherwise?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I do have the gift of interpretation of tongues and have interpreted tongues on many occasions. Sometimes the interpretation comes over as a prophecy, and my view on this is that the tongues were an intercession to God for the word of prophecy to be released in the meeting. This has often happened when there has been a tongue and an interpretation followed then by a number of prophecies to the whole church. At other times I have interpreted someone's tongue as a direct prayer to God consisting of praise and adoration to Him.

When I hear someone speak out in tongues, I ask the Lord for the interpretation of it. I might then get just two or three words and when I speak them out, then the rest comes out flowing like a river. Then the flow stops and I finish. Interpretation is tongues is not a direct translation. That is why it is called "interpretation". But in Pentecostal history there have been times when an interpretation, giving in faith, has been a direct translation of what was said in tongues. It was when the tongues message was in a language that was understood by someone in the meeting, and they were able to say that the interpretation was exactly in English what the person said in the other language. That would have been an amazing experience. But these experiences are rare. I have to note that the person who spoke in tongues spoke in faith not knowing what he was speaking, and the person giving the interpretation had no knowledge of the tongues language either. Both spoke out in total faith and this was the miracle - an understandable language followed by a direct translation.

I have assisted some through CF and email to come through to tongues. Then I have asked them to speak it slowly and type out the words to me. Then I have asked God for the interpretation, got it and typed it back to them. This has been a great encouragement to them. I would not do this on request from anyone who wanted a word this way. I no longer do words on request because God is quite able to speak to the person directly rather than through me. It was my faith choice to ask the person to type out their tongues and for me to interpret it. It wasn't for self-grandisement for me, but to encourage that person that his or her tongues was totally genuine. If it wasn't, I wouldn't get the interpretation.

 

[shortygreyhere]

I have heard an interpretation and interpreted in various scenarios--I have spoken the message in tongues and someone else has interpreted, I have interpreted when someone else spoke, and I have spoken in tongues and interpreted immediately. I have walked with the Lord for 16 years and believe I have heard approximately 30-40 gifts of tongues with interpretation during that time. I have been used probably no more than 7 or 8 times, but I have not kept track. I have not attended a church that is open to tongues with interpretation for many years and so the gift has been dormant.

Here is my description of it, which is by no means a definite standard, just how I would describe what I have witnessed/participated in:

1. I attended a church for years that had messages in tongues with interpretation. I eagerly desired the gift as a young Christian (probably 3 years in the Lord) and prayed that God would give me the gift.
2. I felt led by the Lord a couple of times to either give an interpretation or a message in tongues, but was not sure and did not step out in faith the first couple of times. Knowing the leading was there, and regretting that I did not step out in faith, caused me to want to be more obedient to God the next time (if there ever was going to be a next time).
3. When the opportunity to be obedient came up again, it felt like I was being compelled by the Holy Spirit to speak a message in tongues, much like we can feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to do or not do something. Our choice to obey is just that--a choice. I never once felt out of control or like I had to give the message that second. When a moment came in the service that was an obvious opportunity, and orderly, I stepped out in faith. I would like to add that many times I have seen a large congregation of 2000 go from loud praise of God with singing, praying, and clapping to almost pin drop silence when it was the right time for the message to come forth. My conclusion is that God can lead his people to create the opportunity for the message. Also, the internal witness of the Holy Spirit does feel different to me when I give a message versus interpreting one. Giving a message feels like an impelling from the Holy Spirit and like rivers or running water that the Holy Spirit desires to have flow out of me. Interpreting feels more like doing something by faith where I know very little, but I trust God to do the work through me.
4. When I have spoken the message in tongues, it did not sound like my usual language that I hear when I pray to God privately in tongues. The language sounded unique and one of a kind each time. It also did not sound repetitive as though 3 or 5 words were being spoken over and over again.
5. All but one of the times I have been present for an interpretation, or given an interpretation, was in a congregational setting inside a church. Amazingly, when in a congregational setting (in an auditorium of 300 or 2000) the voices of those I heard speak in tongues or give interpretations were magnified a lot so that they could be heard very clearly and loudly. When I spoke as part of tongues or interpretation, my voice was amazingly magnified, but it did not feel or sound like I was yelling. It just sounded like my voice really loud and strong.
6. After realizing that God uses me for the gift of interpretation, I am very vigilant when I hear a message given. If God is planning to use me for the interpretation, he gives me the first few words and I feel his leading that I should speak out in faith. The other words come as a flow that feels like it is in real time with the words usually coming out of my mouth without me judging them or turning them over in my mind. It feels like a continuous stepping out in faith. At some point, the words stop coming to me, and I stop speaking. Afterwards I feel full of worship and I want all glory to be given to God.
Usually, I can only remember part of the message because my focus is just on letting God have his way. I will say that oftentimes my flesh and the devil try to condemn me and make me question and doubt--especially with interpretations. I have some friends who are very devout and I have asked them their honest opinion because I would never want to give a false interpretation.
7. I believe that I have given the message and interpreted it immediately two times. After giving the message, I waited a few seconds and God gave me a few words to speak, so I spoke them in faith. I believe those two times it is likely that no one else present could or would interpret. It could definitely be the case that God wanted to use someone else to interpret, but they were not confident to step out in faith.

I have heard some amazing stories of people giving messages with interpretation, including one where the congregation present was from Assemblies of God worldwide and so many different languages were spoken. There was one message in tongues followed by many interpretations of the message in the different languages.

Also, a pastor I know was led by God to give an interpretation, "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn't put Humpty back together again. You are here today and you feel like Humpty Dumpty, but God can put you back together again." He really didn't want to give the interpretation and was questioning God about whether he was really hearing from God. But God confirmed to him, so he gave the interpretation. Afterward, he spoke with an unbelieving couple who were visiting the church. The man had said to his wife that morning in church that he felt like Humpty Dumpty and no one could put him back together again. The man and his wife were born again that day. Praise GOD!!

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I have heard an interpretation and interpreted in various scenarios--I have spoken the message in tongues and someone else has interpreted, I have interpreted when someone else spoke, and I have spoken in tongues and interpreted immediately. I have walked with the Lord for 16 years and believe I have heard approximately 30-40 gifts of tongues with interpretation during that time. I have been used probably no more than 7 or 8 times, but I have not kept track. I have not attended a church that is open to tongues with interpretation for many years and so the gift has been dormant.

Here is my description of it, which is by no means a definite standard, just how I would describe what I have witnessed/participated in:

1. I attended a church for years that had messages in tongues with interpretation. I eagerly desired the gift as a young Christian (probably 3 years in the Lord) and prayed that God would give me the gift.
2. I felt led by the Lord a couple of times to either give an interpretation or a message in tongues, but was not sure and did not step out in faith the first couple of times. Knowing the leading was there, and regretting that I did not step out in faith, caused me to want to be more obedient to God the next time (if there ever was going to be a next time).
3. When the opportunity to be obedient came up again, it felt like I was being compelled by the Holy Spirit to speak a message in tongues, much like we can feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to do or not do something. Our choice to obey is just that--a choice. I never once felt out of control or like I had to give the message that second. When a moment came in the service that was an obvious opportunity, and orderly, I stepped out in faith. I would like to add that many times I have seen a large congregation of 2000 go from loud praise of God with singing, praying, and clapping to almost pin drop silence when it was the right time for the message to come forth. My conclusion is that God can lead his people to create the opportunity for the message. Also, the internal witness of the Holy Spirit does feel different to me when I give a message versus interpreting one. Giving a message feels like an impelling from the Holy Spirit and like rivers or running water that the Holy Spirit desires to have flow out of me. Interpreting feels more like doing something by faith where I know very little, but I trust God to do the work through me.
4. When I have spoken the message in tongues, it did not sound like my usual language that I hear when I pray to God privately in tongues. The language sounded unique and one of a kind each time. It also did not sound repetitive as though 3 or 5 words were being spoken over and over again.
5. All but one of the times I have been present for an interpretation, or given an interpretation, was in a congregational setting inside a church. Amazingly, when in a congregational setting (in an auditorium of 300 or 2000) the voices of those I heard speak in tongues or give interpretations were magnified a lot so that they could be heard very clearly and loudly. When I spoke as part of tongues or interpretation, my voice was amazingly magnified, but it did not feel or sound like I was yelling. It just sounded like my voice really loud and strong.
6. After realizing that God uses me for the gift of interpretation, I am very vigilant when I hear a message given. If God is planning to use me for the interpretation, he gives me the first few words and I feel his leading that I should speak out in faith. The other words come as a flow that feels like it is in real time with the words usually coming out of my mouth without me judging them or turning them over in my mind. It feels like a continuous stepping out in faith. At some point, the words stop coming to me, and I stop speaking. Afterwards I feel full of worship and I want all glory to be given to God.
Usually, I can only remember part of the message because my focus is just on letting God have his way. I will say that oftentimes my flesh and the devil try to condemn me and make me question and doubt--especially with interpretations. I have some friends who are very devout and I have asked them their honest opinion because I would never want to give a false interpretation.
7. I believe that I have given the message and interpreted it immediately two times. After giving the message, I waited a few seconds and God gave me a few words to speak, so I spoke them in faith. I believe those two times it is likely that no one else present could or would interpret. It could definitely be the case that God wanted to use someone else to interpret, but they were not confident to step out in faith.

I have heard some amazing stories of people giving messages with interpretation, including one where the congregation present was from Assemblies of God worldwide and so many different languages were spoken. There was one message in tongues followed by many interpretations of the message in the different languages.

Also, a pastor I know was led by God to give an interpretation, "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn't put Humpty back together again. You are here today and you feel like Humpty Dumpty, but God can put you back together again." He really didn't want to give the interpretation and was questioning God about whether he was really hearing from God. But God confirmed to him, so he gave the interpretation. Afterward, he spoke with an unbelieving couple who were visiting the church. The man had said to his wife that morning in church that he felt like Humpty Dumpty and no one could put him back together again. The man and his wife were born again that day. Praise GOD!!

I love your post. I have a friend involved in the prophetic ministry and he felt led to give a prophetic word over a man and he said, "You are like a Morris Minor motor car. You are in gear but God wants to take you places." The meeting erupted in laughter and praise. My friend was told later that the man was the president of the local Morris Minor Association and had a collection of Morris Minor motor cars! God's ways are brilliant and He knows how to get right into a person's heart.