1 Corinthians 14:14
◄  1 Corinthians 14:14  ►
New International Version (©2011)
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

New Living Translation (©2007)
For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying.

English Standard Version (©2001)
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

International Standard Version (©2012)
For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.

NET Bible (©2006)
If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
For if I should pray in languages, my spirit is praying, but my understanding is unfruitful.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
If I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my mind is not productive.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

American King James Version
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

American Standard Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruit.

Darby Bible Translation
For if I pray with a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

English Revised Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Webster's Bible Translation
For if I pray in an unknown language, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Weymouth New Testament
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.

World English Bible
For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Young's Literal Translation
for if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit doth pray, and my understanding is unfruitful.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:6-14 Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hear them, is but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them. Language plain and easy to be understood, is the most proper for public worship, and other religious exercises. Every true follower of Christ will rather desire to do good to others, than to get a name for learning or fine speaking.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - My understanding is unfruitful. I am only aware that I am praying. I have no definite consciousness as to what I say.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For if I pray in an unknown tongue,.... In the Hebrew tongue, which the greatest part of the Jewish doctors insisted (a) upon should be only used in prayer; which notion might be borrowed from them, and now greatly prevailed in the church at Corinth; and the custom was used by such as had the gift of speaking that language, even though the body and bulk of the people understood it not:

my spirit prayeth; I pray with my breath vocally; or else with affection and devotion, understanding what I say myself, and so am edified; or rather with the gift of the Spirit bestowed on me:

but my understanding is unfruitful; that is, what I say with understanding to myself is unprofitable to others, not being understood by them.

(a) Vid. Trigland. de Sect. Kar. c. 10. p. 172, 173.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. spirit—my higher being, the passive object of the Holy Spirit's operations, and the instrument of prayer in the unknown tongue, distinguished from the "understanding," the active instrument of thought and reasoning; which in this case must be "unfruitful" in edifying others, since the vehicle of expression is unintelligible to them. On the distinction of soul or mind and spirit, see Eph 4:23; Heb 4:12.

1 Corinthians 14:14 Parallel Commentaries

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Prophecy and Tongues
…13Why let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. …

1 Corinthians 14:13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
1 Corinthians 14:15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.