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Tuesday, November 5th, 2024
the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Read the Bible

Myles Coverdale Bible

1 Corinthians 14:14

Yf I praye with tunges, my sprete prayeth, but my vnderstodinge bryngeth no man frute.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Interpretation;   Language;   Man;   Preaching;   Tongues (the Gift);   The Topic Concordance - Prophecy and Prophets;   Tongues;   Understanding;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prayer, Public;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Humanity, humankind;   Tongues;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Mind/reason;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Worship of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Tongues, Gift of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Ethics;   Prayer;   Psychology;   Spirit;   Spiritual Gifts;   Tongues, Gift of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Acts of the Apostles;   Edification;   Holy Spirit;   Mind;   Prayer;   Tongues Gift of;   Voice;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Edification;   Tongues, Gift of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Unfruitful;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Synagogue;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ignorance;   Prayer;   Spiritual Gifts;   Tongues, Gift of;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.
Revised Standard Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
If I praye with tonge my sprete prayeth: but my mynde is with out frute.
Hebrew Names Version
For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
International Standard Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.
New American Standard Bible
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.
New Century Version
If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.
Update Bible Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Webster's Bible Translation
For if I pray in an [unknown] language, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
English Standard Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
World English Bible
For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my Spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Weymouth's New Testament
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For if Y preye in tunge, my spirit preieth; myn vndurstondyng is with outen fruyt.
English Revised Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Berean Standard Bible
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
Contemporary English Version
For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless.
Amplified Bible
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].
American Standard Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Bible in Basic English
For if I make use of tongues in my prayers, my spirit makes the prayer, but not my mind.
Complete Jewish Bible
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit does pray, but my mind is unproductive.
Darby Translation
For if I pray with a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Etheridge Translation
For if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my mind is without fruit.
Murdock Translation
For if I should pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruits.
King James Version (1611)
For if I pray in an vnknowen tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my vnderstanding is vnfruitfull.
New Living Translation
For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying.
New Life Bible
If I pray in special sounds, my spirit is doing the praying. My mind does not understand.
New Revised Standard
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For if I pray in a strange togue, my spirit prayeth: but mine vnderstading is without fruite.
George Lamsa Translation
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my knowledge is fruitless.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit, is praying, but, my mind, is unfruitful.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth: but my understanding is without fruit.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For yf I pray with tongue, my spirite prayeth, but my vnderstanding is without fruite.
Good News Translation
For if I pray in this way, my spirit prays indeed, but my mind has no part in it.
Christian Standard Bible®
For if I pray in another tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
King James Version
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Lexham English Bible
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.
Literal Translation
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
Young's Literal Translation
for if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit doth pray, and my understanding is unfruitful.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prays, but my meaning is of no benefit to others.
New English Translation
If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.
New King James Version
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Praying in tongues is your spirit praying, not your conscious mind.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
Legacy Standard Bible
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

Contextual Overview

6 But now brethren yf I come vnto you, and speake with tunges, what shal I profet you, excepte I speake vnto you ether by reuelacion or by knowlege, or by prophecienge, or by doctryne? 7 Likewyse is it also in ye thinges that geue sounde, and yet lyue not: whether it be a pype or an harpe, excepte they geue distyncte soundes from them, how shal it be knowne what is pyped or harped? 8 And yf the trope geue an vncertayne sounde, who wil prepare himselfe to the battayll? 9 Euen so ye likewyse, whan ye speake with tunges, excepte ye speake playne wordes, how shal it be knowne what is spoke? for ye shal but speake in ye ayre. 10 So many kyndes of voyces are in the worlde, and none of them is without significacion. 11 Yf I knowe not now what ye voyce meaneth, I shalbe an aleaunt vnto him that speaketh: & he that speaketh, shalbe an aleaut vnto me. 12 Eue so ye (for so moch as ye couet spirituall giftes (seke yt ye maye haue plentye to the edifienge of the congregacion. 13 Wherfore let him that speaketh wt tunges, praye, that he maye interprete also. 14 Yf I praye with tunges, my sprete prayeth, but my vnderstodinge bryngeth no man frute.

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

Genesis 12:5
So Abram toke Sarai his wife, and Lot his brothers sonne, wt all their goodes which they had gotten, and soules which they begat in Hara, and departed to go in to ye londe of Canaan.
Genesis 12:16
and Abram was well intreated for hir sake: and he had shepe, oxe, and he Asses, seruauntes, maydes, she Asses and Camels.
Genesis 13:8
Then sayde Abram vnto Lot: O let there be no strife betwene me and the, and betwene my hyrdmen and thine, for we are brethre.
Genesis 14:1
And it chaunsed in the tyme of Amraphel the kynge of Synear, Arioch the kynge of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer the kinge of Elam, & Thy deal the kynge of ye Heithen,
Genesis 14:2
That they made warre wt Bera ye kynge of Sodome, and wt Birsa the kynge of Gomorra, & with Sineab the kynge of Adama, & with Semeaber the kynge of Zeboim, and with the kynge of Bela, which is called Zoar.
Genesis 14:3
These came all together in to the brode valley, where now the salt see is:
Genesis 14:5
Therfore in the fourtenth yeare came Kedorlaomer, and the kynges yt were with him, & smote the Giauntes in Astaroth Karnaim, & Susim at Ham, & Emim in the felde of Kiriathaim,
Genesis 14:11
Then toke they all the goodes at Sodoma and Gomorra, & all their vytales, & wente their waye.
Genesis 14:12
They toke Lot also Abrams brothers sonne, & his good (for he dwelt at Sodome) and departed.
Genesis 15:3
And Abram sayde morouer: Beholde, vnto me hast thou geuen no sede: and lo, the sonne of my housholde shal be myne heyre.

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.


 
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