The phrase “cloven tongues” refers to a phenomenon described in the Bible’s Book of Acts, chapter 2. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus’ disciples and enabled them to speak in different languages they had not previously known.
Here is the full passage from Acts 2:1-13 (ESV):
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
So what exactly happened here? On the day of Pentecost, a major Jewish holiday, the disciples of Jesus were gathered together in Jerusalem. Suddenly, the sound of a violent wind roared through the house where they were meeting. Flames or tongues of fire appeared over each person, and all were filled with the Holy Spirit. Empowered by the Spirit, the disciples began speaking in foreign languages they did not previously know.
Many Jews from all over the ancient world were in Jerusalem for the Pentecost festival. When they heard the disciples speaking in their own native languages, they were utterly amazed. Some thought the disciples were just drunk, but most were astonished at this demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power.
The tongues of fire over the disciples’ heads and the supernatural ability to speak unknown languages are what is meant by the phrase “cloven tongues.” The tongues being “cloven” (split or divided) refers to how the disciples were enabled to speak many different languages at once.
This miraculous event marks a major turning point in the early Christian church. Jesus had promised his disciples would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). Now, with the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples are empowered to begin spreading the gospel across linguistic and cultural barriers. Their message is no longer limited just to their fellow Jews in Jerusalem, but can go forth to all nations.
The gift of tongues demonstrated the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to send the Spirit, removing the language barrier to preaching the gospel across the world. It also showed the Spirit’s role in bringing unity amidst diversity within the multicultural church. By Spirit-enabled preaching in many tongues, the first Christians crossed ethnic divides to proclaim the mighty works of God to all peoples.
Beyond the day of Pentecost, speaking in tongues would become a spiritual gift practiced in the early church. The Apostle Paul discusses this gift in 1 Corinthians 14, where he provides guidance on how tongues should be used orderly in corporate worship. This is a different manifestation of tongues than what happened at Pentecost, but it is sometimes also described as “cloven” or divided tongues.
Paul indicates that the gift of tongues is primarily meant for private prayer and should not dominate public worship. Prophecy is preferred over uninterpreted tongues because it can edify the whole church. But Paul still sees value in tongue-speaking as a way to praise and communicate with God beyond the limits of normal human language.
The exact nature of tongues in this later context is debated. Are they human languages, like at Pentecost? Or something more akin to angelic speech or glossolalia? Scholars are divided. But there is agreement that Paul allowed for Spirit-enabled speech that transcends normal linguistic abilities, even if its purpose was more private than the tongues of Pentecost.
So in summary, “cloven tongues” in Scripture refers to:
1. The divided tongues of fire over the disciples at Pentecost, representing the Holy Spirit’s presence.
2. The miraculous ability to speak human languages previously unknown, enabling the gospel to spread across barriers.
3. Possibly also the gift of tongues in Corinth – speech enabled by the Spirit but not always understandable.
While details are debated, it is clear tongues play an important symbolic and practical role in Luke’s theology of the Spirit and the Spirit-filled church. The gift of tongues at Pentecost empowers diverse proclamation of the gospel by the Spirit. This fulfills Jesus’ promise of the Spirit and initiates the worldwide harvest. So tongues signify the Spirit-endowed mission to the nations fulfilling Jesus’ great commission. They also may provide private means of praise and communion with God that transcends normal speech. All of this testifies to the presence of the Spirit in the believer, guiding the church into God’s truth and empowering diverse ministry.
In Luke’s portrayal, tongues are intimately tied with the Spirit’s coming to indwell God’s people and equip them for witness. They serve as a sign of the Spirit’s outpouring and gifts that democratize ministry in the new covenant. No longer is leadership limited to a few prophets as in Israel’s old covenant. Now all kinds of people, through Spirit baptism, can prophesy, preach, and minister regardless of ethnicity, age, or gender. This is enacted at Pentecost through tongues-speech, initiating the fulfilling of Joel 2:28. The Spirit is now poured out on all flesh, as evidenced by wonder-evoking tongues that equip new tongues to testify to Christ worldwide.
So “cloven tongues” refers primarily to the multiplicity of languages enabled by the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost. This empowers the inclusive, diverse body of Christ to fulfill the great commission under the Spirit’s guidance. The Spirit splits and multiplies tongues to speak God’s mighty works to all nations. This miraculous gift initiates the harvest while also providing a pattern for ongoing diverse ministry in the Spirit-filled body of Christ. Through tongues the Spirit invites people from every tribe and tongue into God’s kingdom, undoing Babel and bringing unity through diversity under the lordship of Christ.
The giving of the Spirit at Pentecost is one of the most important events in the New Testament. The theologically rich account provides insight into the nature of God, the work of Christ, empowerment by the Spirit, the birth of the church, and the fulfilling of God’s mission to redeem people from all nations. The cloven tongues signifying this singular event continue to remind Christians that God desires to transcend human barriers and bring redemption through diverse Spirit-empowered ministry under the banner of Christ.
So in summary, “cloven tongues” in Scripture refers primarily to:
– The tongues of fire over the disciples’ heads at Pentecost representing the Holy Spirit
– The miraculous ability to speak in unlearned human languages to spread the gospel cross-culturally
– Possibly also the gift of tongues exercised in Corinth – speaking mysteries to God beyond normal language
The cloven tongues at Pentecost signify:
– The ushering in of the Spirit age inaugurating the messianic era
– The empowering of all kinds of people for ministry fulfilling Joel 2:28
– The commissioning of the church for Spirit-led global witness fulfilling the Great Commission
– The birth of the diverse yet Spirit-gifted body of Christ
– The reversing of Babel and redemption of the nations under Christ
So “cloven tongues” conveys the multifaceted work of the Spirit in empowering a diverse body to fulfill God’s mission through proclaiming Christ to all peoples. This fulfills Old Testament prophecy and Jesus’ own promises about the coming Spirit who would indwell and empower God’s people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
