1 Corinthians 14:17

17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.

1 Corinthians 14:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:17

For thou verily givest thanks well
In very proper words, and pertinent expressions, with great affection and devotion, suitable to the service;

but the other is not edified;
the rest of the people, who do not understand the language in which thanks are given; "thy friend", as the Syriac version reads it; or thy next neighbour, he that stands by thee, receives no manner of profit by it, because he does not understand what is said.

1 Corinthians 14:17 In-Context

15 What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in [other] languages more than all of you;
19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in [another] language.
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