Interpretation of Tongues: Spiritual Gifts Definitions, Scriptures, and Ways to Serve

[If you have not already done so, please take a moment now to take this free spiritual gifts assessment. Once you have your results, come back to this and the corresponding 22 blog posts for a detailed description of each of the gifts, focusing on your own as well as becoming familiar with all of them so you can spot and call them out in others.]

 

Interpretation of Tongues

Those with the gift of Interpretation of Tongues help the rest of the Body of Christ understand the message being spoken by those with the gift of Tongues. It may be a direct translation of a known language or an unlearned language, or a strong sense of the meaning of what has been spoken. This gift may also be given concurrently to someone with the gift of Tongues.

 

Scriptures that reference Interpretation of Tongues or show someone exhibiting this gift:

1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 14.

 

Questions on the assessment that pertain to Interpretation of Tongues:

  • When someone speaks in Tongues, I am able to understand the message.

  • I am able to provide the meaning of a message of Tongues to others present.

  • If someone prays in Tongues, I get a feeling or vision or picture of what the message means.

 

Some words that describe people with this gift:

  • Responsive

  • God-glorifying

  • Spirit-led

  • Obedient

  • Discerning

  • Clarifier

 

Some possible ways to serve using this gift:

  • Anytime there is speaking in Tongues in public, there should be an interpreter so that the message can be understood by those present

  • Prayer team

  • Healing prayer team

 

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.

All rights reserved.

 

Shirley Giles Davisspiritual gifts, spiritual gifts and serving, free spiritual gifts assessment, free spiritual gifts inventory, free gifts assessment, definition of interpretation of tongues spiritual gift, spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues, gift of interpretation