1 Corinthians 14:16

1 Corinthians 14:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
• New International Version (NIV)Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:16

14If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you,

1 Corinthians 14:16 word by word

ἐπεὶ ἐὰν εὐλογῇς ἐν πνεύματι, ὁ ἀναπληρῶν τὸν τόπον τοῦ ἰδιώτου πῶς ἐρεῖ τὸ ἀμὴν ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ εὐχαριστίᾳ; ἐπειδὴ τί λέγεις οὐκ οἶδεν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Elseἐπείepei · sinceG1893
• whenἐάνean · ifG1437
• thou shalt blessεὐλογέωeulogeō · to praise/blessG2127
• with the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• shallἀναπληρόωanaplēroō · to fulfilG378
• the roomτόποςtopos · placeG5117
• of the unlearnedἰδιώτηςidiōtēs · unlearnedG2399
• sayἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
• Amenἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• atἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• thyσόςsos · yourG4674
• giving of thanksεὐχαριστίαeucharistia · thankfulnessG2169
• seeingἐπειδήepeidē · sinceG1894
• he understandethεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• thou sayestλέγωlegō · to sayG3004

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:16

• 1 Corinthians 14:2For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 14:23So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?
• Isaiah 29:11To you this entire prophetic revelation is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read and say, “Read this,” he responds, “I can’t, because it is sealed.”
• John 7:15Then the Jewish leaders were astonished and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?”
• Acts 4:13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.
• 1 Corinthians 11:24and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:24My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
• Numbers 5:22and this water that causes the curse will go into your stomach, and make your abdomen swell and your thigh rot.” Then the woman must say, “Amen, amen.”
• Deuteronomy 27:15‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or metal image – something abhorrent to the Lord, the work of the craftsman – and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
• 1 Kings 1:36Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded to the king: “So be it! May the Lord God of my master the king confirm it!
• 1 Chronicles 16:36May the Lord God of Israel be praised, in the future and forevermore. Then all the people said, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”
• Psalms 41:13The Lord God of Israel deserves praise in the future and forevermore! We agree! We agree!
• Psalms 72:19His glorious name deserves praise forevermore! May his majestic splendor fill the whole earth! We agree! We agree!
• Psalms 89:52The Lord deserves praise forevermore! We agree! We agree!
• Psalms 106:48The Lord God of Israel deserves praise, in the future and forevermore. Let all the people say, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”
• Jeremiah 28:6The prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do all this! May the Lord make your prophecy come true! May he bring back to this place from Babylon all the valuable articles taken from the Lord’s temple and the people who were carried into exile.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16He that occupieth the room of the unlearned - One who is not acquainted with the language in which you speak, sing, or pray. Say Amen - Give his assent and ratification to what he does not understand. It was very frequent in primitive times to express their approbation in the public assemblies by Amen. This practice, soberly and piously conducted, might still be of great use in the Church of Christ. This response was of the highest authority and merit…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Else - ( ̓́ Epei). Since; if this is not done; if what is said is not intelligible, how shall the unlearned be able appropriately to express his assent, and join in your devotions? When thou shalt bless - When thou shalt bless God, or give thanks to him. If thou shalt lead the devotions of the people in expressing thanksgiving for mercies and favors. This may refer to a part of public worship, or to the thanks which should be expressed at table, and the…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. 1616. Else ... thou--He changes from the first person, as he had just expressed his own resolution, "I will pray with the understanding," whatever "thou" doest. bless--the highest kind of prayer. occupieth the room of the unlearned--one who, whatever other gifts he may possess, yet, as wanting the gift of interpretation, is reduced by the speaking in an unknown tongue to the position of one unlearned, or "a private person." say Amen--Prayer is not a…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:16

• Amen
• Interpretation
• Language
• Preaching
• Tongues (the Gift)
• Worship

In the dictionaries

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

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