the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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New Revised Standard
1 Corinthians 14:14
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For if I pray in another tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in an vnknowen tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my vnderstanding is vnfruitfull.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.
If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying].
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit does pray, but my mind is unproductive.
For if I pray with a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.
For if I pray in a strange togue, my spirit prayeth: but mine vnderstading is without fruite.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my knowledge is fruitless.
For if I pray in this way, my spirit prays indeed, but my mind has no part in it.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I make use of tongues in my prayers, my spirit makes the prayer, but not my mind.
For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.
For if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my mind is without fruit.
For if I should pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruits.
For yf I pray with tongue, my spirite prayeth, but my vnderstanding is without fruite.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my Spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.
For if Y preye in tunge, my spirit preieth; myn vndurstondyng is with outen fruyt.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in an [unknown] language, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying.
If I pray in special sounds, my spirit is doing the praying. My mind does not understand.
For, if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit, is praying, but, my mind, is unfruitful.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth: but my understanding is without fruit.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
If I praye with tonge my sprete prayeth: but my mynde is with out frute.
for if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit doth pray, and my understanding is unfruitful.
Yf I praye with tunges, my sprete prayeth, but my vnderstodinge bryngeth no man frute.
for if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prays, but my meaning is of no benefit to others.
Praying in tongues is your spirit praying, not your conscious mind.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
my spirit: 1 Corinthians 14:2, 1 Corinthians 14:15, 1 Corinthians 14:16, 1 Corinthians 14:19
but: That is, "not productive of any benefit to others.
Reciprocal: Psalms 47:7 - sing Romans 1:9 - with 1 Corinthians 14:4 - edifieth himself Ephesians 4:12 - the edifying
Cross-References
Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan,
And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys, and camels.
Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred.
In the days of King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim,
these kings made war with King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
All these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea).
In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,
So the enemy took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way;
they also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir."
Gill's Notes on the 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.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
For if I pray ... - The reference to prayer here, and to singing in 1 Corinthians 14:15, is designed to illustrate the propriety of the general sentiment which he is defending, that public worship should be conducted in a language that would be intelligible to the people. However well meant it might be, or however the “heart” might be engaged in it, yet unless it was intelligible, and the understanding could join in it, it would be vain and profitless.
My spirit prayeth - The word spirit here (πνεῦμα pneuma) has been variously understood. Some have understood it of the Holy Spirit - the Spirit by which Paul says he was actuated. Others of the “spiritual gift,” or that spiritual influence by which he was endowed. Others of the mind itself. But it is probable that the word “spirit” refers to the “will;” or to the mind, as the seat of the affections and emotions; that is, to the heart, desires, or intentions. The word “spirit” is often used in the Scriptures as the seat of the affections, and emotions, and passions of various kinds; see Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit;” Luke 10:21, “Jesus rejoiced in spirit.” So it is the seat of ardor or fervor Luke 1:17; Acts 18:25; Romans 12:11; of grief or indignation; Mark 3:12; John 11:33; John 13:21; Acts 17:16. It refers also to feelings, disposition, or temper of mind, in Luke 9:55; Romans 8:15. Here it refers, it seems to me. to the heart, the will, the disposition, the feelings, as contradistinguished from the understanding; and the sense is, “My feelings find utterance in prayer; my heart is engaged in devotion; my prayer will be acceptable to God, who looks upon the feelings of the heart, and I may have true enjoyment; but my understanding will be unfruitful, that is, will not profit others. What I say will not he understood by them; and of course, however much benefit I might derive from my devotions, yet they would be useless to others.”
But my understanding - (ὁ δὲ νοῦς μου ho de nous mou). My intellect, my mind; my mental efforts and operations.
Is unfruitful - Produces nothing that will be of advantage to them. It is like a barren tree; a tree that bears nothing that can be of benefit to others. They cannot understand what I say, and of course, they cannot be profited by what I utter.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 1 Corinthians 14:14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue — If my prayers are composed of sentences and sayings taken out of the prophets, c., and in their own language-my spirit prayeth, my heart is engaged in the work, and my prayers answer all the purpose of prayers to myself but my understanding is unfruitful to all others, because they do not understand my prayers, and I either do not or cannot interpret them. See the note on 1 Corinthians 14:19.
