1 Corinthians 14:14

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye desire the things of the Spirit, earnestly pursue excellence unto the edification of the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}.

13 Therefore, let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What 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.

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the place of the ignorant say, Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what thou sayest?