1 Corinthians 14:15

1 Corinthians 14:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
• English Standard Version (ESV)What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
• New King James Version (NKJV)What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:15

13Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. 16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.

1 Corinthians 14:15 word by word

τί οὖν ἐστιν; προσεύξομαι τῷ πνεύματι, προσεύξομαι δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ· ψαλῶ τῷ πνεύματι, ψαλῶ δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• is itεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• I will prayπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• with the spiritὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• with the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• andδέde · thenG1161
• with the understandingνοῦςnous · mindG3563
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• I will singψάλλωpsallō · to sing praiseG5567

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:15

• 1 Corinthians 10:19What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
• Romans 3:5But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?
• Romans 8:31What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
• Philippians 1:18What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice
• 1 Corinthians 14:19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
• John 4:23But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him.
• Romans 1:9God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son — that I constantly mention you,
• Ephesians 5:17So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
• Ephesians 6:18Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
• Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
• Jude 1:20But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
• Psalms 47:7Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of the whole earth.
• Romans 12:1Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:15

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15What is it then? - What shall I do? What is the proper course for me to pursue? What is my practice and my desire; see the same form of expression in Romans 3:9, and Romans 6:15. It indicates the “conclusion” to which the reasoning had conducted him, or the course which he would pursue in view of all the circumstances of the case. I will pray with the spirit … - I will endeavor to “blend” all the advantages which can be derived from prayer; I will “unite”…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-25Verses 15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17It is better to worship with both spirit and understandable words. Public worship should bless God and others. Speaking in tongues without interpretation glorifies God and helps the speaker (14:4), but it does not help others present. say “Amen” to your thanksgiving: Amen was the traditional response to a prayer.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. What is it then?--What is my determination thereupon? and--rather as Greek, "but"; I will not only pray with my spirit, which (1Co 14:14) might leave the understanding unedified, BUT with the understanding also [Alford and Ellicott]. pray with the understanding also--and, by inference, I will keep silence altogether if I cannot pray with the understanding (so as to make myself understood by others). A prescient warning, mutatis mutandis, against the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:15

• Interpretation
• Language
• Music
• Praise
• Prayer
• Preaching
• Tongues (the Gift)
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• Confusion
• Desire
• Edification
• Except
• Pipe
• Profit
• Tongues, Gift of
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Holy Spirit
• Ministry

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings