1 Corinthians 14:14

14 If I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my mind is not productive.

1 Corinthians 14:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:14

For if I pray in an unknown tongue
In the Hebrew tongue, which the greatest part of the Jewish doctors insisted ^F1 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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F1 Vid. Trigland. de Sect. Kar. c. 10. p. 172, 173.

1 Corinthians 14:14 In-Context

12 In the same way, since you're eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in them so that you help the church grow.

13 So the person who speaks in another language should pray for an interpretation of what he says.

14 If I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my mind is not productive.

15 So what does this mean? It means that I will pray with my spirit, and I will pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, and I will sing psalms with my mind.

16 Otherwise, if you praise God only with your spirit, how can outsiders say "Amen!" to your prayer of thanksgiving? They don't know what you're saying.