10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
None of them dumb [1] He now speaks in a more general way, for he now takes in the natural voices of animals. He uses the term dumb here, to mean confused -- as opposed to an articulate voice; for the barking of dogs differs from the neighing of horses, and the roaring of lions from the braying of asses. Every kind of bird, too, has its own particular way of singing and chirping. The whole order of nature, therefore, as appointed by God, invites us to observe a distinction. [2]
1 - "That in this passage," says Dr. Henderson, "phone, which properly signifies sound, then voice, must be taken in the sense of language or dialect, is evident: for it would not be true, that there are no sounds or voices in the world (aphonon) without signification, according as these terms are usually understood. The meaning is -- every language is intelligible to some nation or other; and it is only to persons who are ignorant of it, that its words are destitute of signification. This the Apostle illustrates in a very forcible manner: Therefore, if I know not the, meaning of the voice, (tos phonos, of the language,) I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.' We shall be like two foreigners, who do not understand each other's tongue. The very use of the term interpret and interpretation, as applied to this subject, also proves that he could only have intelligent language in view: it being a contradiction in terms to speak of interpreting that which has no meaning." Henderson on Inspiration. -- Ed
2 - "C'est a dire, nous monstre aucunement qu'il faut parler en sorte que nous soyons entendus;" -- "That is to say, it shows us, in a manner, that we must speak so as to be understood."
There are it may be - There has been considerable variety in the interpertation of this expression. Rosenmuller renders it, "for the sake of example." Grotius supposes that Paul meant to indicate that there were, perhaps, or might be, as many languages as the Jews supposed, to wit, seventy. Beza and others suppose it means, that there may he as many languages as there are nations of people. Bloomfield renders it, "Let there he as many kinds of languages as you choose." Macknight, "There are, no doubt, as many kinds of languages in the world as ye speak." Robinson (Lexicon) renders it, "If so happen, it may be; perchance, perhaps;" and says the phrase is equivalent to "for example," The sense is, "There are perhaps, or for example, very many kinds of voices in the world; and all are significant. None are used by those who speak them without meaning; none speak them without designing to convey some intelligible idea to their hearers." The "argument" is, that as "all" the languages that are in the world, however numerous they are, are for "utility," and as none are used for the sake of mere display, so it should be with those who had the power of speaking them in the Christian church. They should speak them only when and where they would be understood.
Voices - Languages.
There are, it may be - Ει τυχοι, For example.
So many kinds of voices - So many different languages, each of which has its distinct articulation, pronunciation, emphasis, and meaning; or there may be so many different nations, each possessing a different language, etc.
(4) There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them [is] without signification.
(4) He proves that interpretation is necessarily to be joined with the gift of tongues, by the manifold variety of languages, insomuch that if one speak to another without an interpreter, it is as if he did not speak.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices,.... "tongues", or "languages", as the Syriac version renders it; that is, as many as there are nations in the world; there may be seventy of them, as the Jews say there were at the confusion of languages at Babel; there may be more or less:
and none of them is without signification: every language, and every word in a language, has a meaning in it, an idea annexed to it, which it conveys to him that understands it, and that cannot be done without a voice ordinarily speaking.
it may be--that is, perhaps, speaking by conjecture. "It may chance" (1-Corinthians 15:37).
so many--as may be enumerated by investigators of such matters. Compare "so much," used generally for a definite number left undefined (Acts 5:8; also 2-Samuel 12:8).
kinds of voices--kinds of articulate speech.
without signification--without articulate voice (that is, distinct meaning). None is without its own voice, or mode of speech, distinct from the rest.
*More commentary available at chapter level.