# tongue, language

## Definition:

The term “tongue” refers to the organ inside a person’s mouth that is used to speak. The term is often used figuratively to mean “language” or “speaking.” There also several other figurative meanings as well.

* In the Bible, the most common figurative meaning for this term is “language” or “speech.”
* Sometimes “tongue” may refer to a human language spoken by a certain people group.
* Other times it refers to a supernatural language that the Holy Spirit gives believers in Christ as one of the “gifts of the Spirit.”
* In the book of Acts, the expression “tongues” of fire refers to “flames” of fire, presumably shaped like tongues.

## Translation Suggestions

* Depending on the context, the term “tongue” can be translated as “language” or “supernatural language.” If it is not clear which one it is referring to, it is better to translate it as “language.”
* When referring to fire, this term could be translated as “flames.”
* The expression “my tongue rejoices” could be translated as “I rejoice and praise God” or “I am joyfully praising God.”
* The phrase, “tongue that lies” could be translated as “person who tell lies” or “people who lie.”
* Phrases such as “with their tongues” could be translated as “with what they say” or “by their words.”

(See also: [gift](../kt/gift.md), [Holy Spirit](../kt/holyspirit.md), [joy](../other/joy.md), [praise](../other/praise.md), [rejoice](../other/joy.md), [spirit](../kt/spirit.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Corinthians 12:10](rc://en/tn/help/1co/12/10)
* [1 John 3:18](rc://en/tn/help/1jn/03/18)
* [2 Samuel 23:2](rc://en/tn/help/2sa/23/02)
* [Acts 2:26](rc://en/tn/help/act/02/26)
* [Ezekiel 36:3](rc://en/tn/help/ezk/36/03)
* [Philippians 2:11](rc://en/tn/help/php/02/11)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H3956, G11000, G12580, G20840
