Why does Speaking in Tongues Sound all the same?

Speaking in tongues sounds all the same according to some people. But to others the sound of speaking in tongues is not usually the same. It largely depends on the angle someone is looking at speaking in tongues from.

If a man and a woman speak in tongues, there will be a difference in the pitch of their sound. But I understand that someone who asks this question is likely referring to the similarity in the syllables spoken not the other factors.

With that being the case, I will discuss in detail why speaking in tongues sounds all the same and draw important conclusions.

Why Speaking in Tongues Sounds all the same

1. Speaking in Tongues is the work of the same Spirit

It is clear from the Bible that speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in all believers in diverse ways.

When it comes to speaking in tongues, there is definitely going to be similarities in the sound given the fact that it is the same Spirit speaking through everyone.

Speaking in tongues is basically letting the Holy Spirit use your tongue to speak. Why should it be a surprise when different people sound the same?

2. Speaking in Tongues is meant to Sound Gibberish

Unless someone has the gift of interpreting tongues, all speaking in tongues sounds gibberish. It is no coincidence that speaking in tongues sounds gibberish.

God intentionally chose speaking in tongues to sound that way to test the hearts of men. God uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wisdom of men.

This was true in the case of Jesus too; He showed up in a form that made many despise Him. Through it, God was able to tell between those who genuinely loved Jesus and those who followed Him out of hypocrisy.

When you speak in tongues, you sound like a drunkard. No doubt about it! But if you don’t believe that God can use such gibberish sound to transform your life, then you don’t deserve the gift.

Since speaking in tongues is intentioned to make the speaker sound like a drunkard, it is going to sound all the same. Don’t drunkards sound the same?

3. Speaking in Tongues is Uttering Mysteries

We differentiate one syllable from another based on how it sounds. The meaning of the words spoken comes from the different sounds of the individual syllables.

But with speaking in tongues, the meaning of the words spoken cannot be expressed in words. There are not enough sounds to describe the mysteries that are uttered when someone speaks in tongues.

The Bible tells us that whoever speaks in tongues speaks mysteries to God and that no man understands him.

In normal life, whenever we have overwhelming feelings, we say ‘I have no words to explain’ or ‘I have no words to describe it’

But since speaking in tongues is actually speaking those mysteries that in our language we would have no words to describe, the sound that comes out is as mysterious as its meaning.

It is more like using a normal thermometer to measure the temperature of an acetylene flame that burns at about 3100 degrees.

The normal thermometer will display its maximum reading of 100 degrees but that does not mean the temperature is 100 degrees.

That is how speaking in tongues sounds the same but it is not actually the same.

Why Speaking in Tongues Sounds all the same: Important Conclusions

1. Speaking in Tongues is an act of Faith

Speaking in tongues is not entirely a physical activity. If it was, then it could be possible to study it entirely. Since it is partly spiritual, it means it takes faith to understand it.

No matter how hard someone tries to make sense of speaking in tongues, it won’t be possible. Even the Bible authors could not find the right words to describe it.

Apostle Paul refers to speaking in tongues in 1^st Corinthians 14 as ‘mysteries spoken to God that no man understands’. In Romans 8:26, he describe it as ‘groans that are too deep for words’.

In short, unless you have faith that the repetitive sounds of speaking in tongues are actually mysteries, you will never appreciate the gift.

It is impossible to understand speaking in tongues without faith. And God made it that way because He demands faith for anyone who goes to Him. In Hebrews we are told that whoever goes to God must believe that He is and that without faith it is impossible to please Him.

2. The Spirit of God is Mysterious

Jesus said the Holy Spirit is like the wind and so are those who are led by Him. He also made it clear that the world can neither see Him nor know Him.

Given the fact that the giver of the gift Himself is a mystery, how do you expect a gift He gives to be easy to understand?

Unless you have humbled yourself to accept that you cannot comprehend in full the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues will continue sounding all the same to you.

Those who humble themselves, the Spirit of God enables them to understand His mysterious gifts.

3. Speaking in Tongues is a High Spiritual Level

Speaking in tongues is definitely not something an average believer experiences. It takes a high level of faith to partake of it.

If you find it hard to understand speaking in tongues such as why it all sounds the same, it is your faith that is insufficient to get the level of understanding required to grasp the concept.

If you humble yourself and ask God to help you grow, He will cause you to grow and understand. But if you harden your heart with the knowledge that you have, God will keep His mysteries from you.

The choice is yours.

I also had questions about speaking in tongues. I used to ask them to people but I realized that it is only the Spirit of God who can give a comprehensive answer.

I humbled myself to learn and sure enough, the Spirit of God enabled me to understand the concepts I wanted to understand.

On this blog I do my best to share what I can share but some of it can’t be expressed in words. In such cases, all I do is urge someone to get the gift and experience it for themselves.

Meditate on that!