1 Corinthians 14:14

14 If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

1 Corinthians 14:14 In-Context

12 It is the same with you. Since you want spiritual gifts very much, seek most of all to have the gifts that help the church grow stronger.

13 The one who has the gift of speaking in a different language should pray for the gift to interpret what is spoken.

14 If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.

15 So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

16 If you praise God with your spirit, those persons there without understanding cannot say amenn to your prayer of thanks, because they do not know what you are saying.