Nor to many nations of a strange speech, and of an unknown tongue, whose words thou canst not understand: and if thou wert sent to them, they would hearken to thee.
לֹ֣א ׀ אֶל־עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים עִמְקֵ֤י שָׂפָה֙ וְכִבְדֵ֣י לָשׁ֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־תִשְׁמַ֖ע דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם אִם־לֹ֤א אֲלֵיהֶם֙ שְׁלַחְתִּ֔יךָ הֵ֖מָּה יִשְׁמְע֥וּ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
We do not send you to those who are eloquent or speechless but rather to individuals who may not grasp their words. Behold, says God, I have sent you solely to the children of your own people, a language you understand. However, if I had sent you, like Jonah, to one of the nations outside your own, they would have heeded you.
The distinction between the work of the apostles and prophets is clearly illustrated in this context. One group was tasked with the welfare of a single nation, sharing their heritage and language, while the other, according to the Lord’s command, was given the mission for the entire world and all its peoples. It is written, ‘Come, teach all tongues’ (Matthew 28:19), which encompass numerous and varied dialects, diverse moral codes, and conflicting laws. Those charged with multiple nations and languages have brought correction to the cosmos; however, those who attended to a more unruly populace have endured considerable toil but have not seen a harvest commensurate with their efforts.
This disparity is not due to the sloth of the workers but rather to the obstinacy of those they sought to enlighten. Thus, the Lord Himself states: If I had sent you to them, they also would have listened to you.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS