Speaking in tongues, understood as a real heavenly language, is when a person speaks words given directly by the Holy Spirit rather than learned or formed by the human mind. The speaker is not choosing the words or constructing sentences; instead, their spirit is communicating in a language that originates in heaven. Interpretation of tongues is then the work of the Holy Spirit within the mind of either the speaker or someone hearing the tongues, making the meaning of that heavenly language known in a human language which can be understood. In some cases, this interpretation can be experienced as a literal, word-for-word translation, where the heavenly words are heard, and by the Spirit’s gift they are transformed in the mind into the interpreter’s own language. The interpretation may come as clear words, accompanied by visual images, or the like, enabling the interpreter to then speak the message so that others may be encouraged and taught by what the Holy Spirit is communicating.
Here is an example of this. It occurred when a message was spoken in tongues during a worship service, expressed in a heavenly language unknown to human ears. An interpretation was given simultaneously to two people: the speaker and one of the hearers. The interpretation was, “Consider the trees; they put forth buds and leaves. They do so by the power of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This expressed the meaning the Holy Spirit intended the people to understand. To one of the hearers, the interpretation came inwardly while hearing the tongues, together with a vision of a tree branch in bud, with the buds becoming leaves. At the same time, the speaker of the tongues also received the interpretation and spoke it aloud, in keeping with scriptural teaching so that the gathered worshippers could be edified.
The hearer who also received the interpretation did not need to speak it aloud (since it had already been spoken), but was given a unique assurance of the message’s divine authenticity. This assurance came because the speaker spoke out loud the same words that the hearer had perceived inwardly in their own language. Later, this second interpreter testified to what had happened, so that others could know the message had two witnesses to its divine origin. Full assurance was further confirmed through discernment of the spirit of the message itself, which glorified Jesus Christ and acknowledged Him as Lord. Scripture teaches that such a confession is a clear sign that the message is from the Spirit of God.
In this way, speaking in tongues delivers a message from heaven, and interpretation makes that message understandable so it can strengthen and encourage those who hear it. At times, when matching interpretations are given to more than one person, it can add certainty and confidence to the message, especially when spiritual discernment recognizes the honoring of Jesus as Christ and Lord as a key mark of its origin in God.
