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

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15What is it then? I will pray in my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, and I will also sing praises with my mind. Otherwise if you give thanks and praise in the spirit, how will one filling the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he has no idea what you’re saying? 17For you certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. 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 one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to God—for no one understands, but in the Ruach he speaks mysteries.
• 1 Corinthians 14:23So if Messiah’s whole community comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and uninstructed or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?
• Isaiah 29:11So this entire vision is for you like the words of a sealed scroll, which they give to one who knows books, saying, “Read this, please,” but he says, “I can’t, because it’s sealed.”
• John 7:15Then the Judean leaders were amazed, saying, “How does this man know so much, having never been taught?”
• Acts 4:13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and figured out they were laymen without training, they were amazed. They began to realize that these men had been with Yeshua.
• 1 Corinthians 11:24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in memory of Me.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:24My love be with you all in Messiah Yeshua.
• Numbers 5:22“May this water which brings a curse enter your body and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to rot.’ “The woman is to say, ‘Amen, amen!’
• Deuteronomy 27:15‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molten image—an abomination to Adonai, the work of a craftsman’s hands—and sets it up in secret.’ Then all the people are to answer and say, ‘Amen.’
• 1 Kings 1:36Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king and said: “Amen! Thus says Adonai, the God of my lord the king.
• 1 Chronicles 16:36Blessed be Adonai, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen,” and “Praise Adonai.”
• Psalms 41:13You uphold me in my integrity and set me before Your face forever.
• Psalms 72:19Blessed be His glorious Name forever. May all the earth be filled with His glory! Amen and Amen!
• Psalms 89:52How Your enemies have mocked, Adonai, how they have mocked the footsteps of Your Anointed One!
• Psalms 106:48Blessed be Adonai, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen!” Halleluyah!
• Jeremiah 28:6So the prophet Jeremiah said: “Amen! May Adonai do so! May Adonai fulfill your words that you have prophesied, bringing back the vessels of Adonai’s House and all those who are taken away captive, from Babylon to this place!

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