1 Corinthians 14:21

Law. Gr. nomos, here evidently referring to the entire OT (see on John 10:34).

It is written. The citation is from Isa. 28:11, but agrees only loosely with either the Hebrew or the LXX. The original passage is a warning to Israel concerning their unbelieving and contemptuous treatment of God’s messengers. They appear to have asked in derision whether they should be treated like little children by having the “line upon line” and “precept upon precept” repeatedly dinned into their ears, as little children were taught. Through the prophet God replied that because they had despised such simple instruction, they would be instructed through the people of a different language and foreign utterance. This is a reference to the Gentile nations, particularly Assyria and Babylon, by whom the Jews were taken into captivity. In captivity the Jews would hear only a language that to them would be unintelligible and barbarous. It appears, however, that in his use of this OT passage Paul is pointing out that as God anciently used other languages with a purpose, so now He uses the gift of tongues, to serve an important purpose in the Christian Era.