1 Corinthians 14:16

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
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?
WEB
Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?
ASV
Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?
DARBY
Since otherwise, if thou blessest with [the] spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the simple [Christian] say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, since he does not know what thou sayest?
BLB
Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the one filling up the place of the uninstructed say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you say?
ÅB
For dersom du lover Gud med din ånd, hvordan skal da noen blant de ukyndige kunne si amen til din takkebønn? han vet jo ikke hva du sier;
OTB
For ellers, hvis du velsigner Gud i ånden alene, hvordan skal den som sitter på outsiderens plass si "Amen" til din takksigelse, siden han ikke forstår hva du sier?
B1930
For dersom du lover Gud med din ånd, hvorledes skal da nogen blandt de ukyndige kunne si amen til din takkebønn? han vet jo ikke hvad du sier;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Chronicles 16:36

    Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 106:48

    Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Hallelujah!

    Read in context
  • Revelation 5:14

    And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 27:15–26

    ‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 8:6

    Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 11:24

    and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 28:6

    “Amen!” Jeremiah said. “May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied, and may He restore the articles of His house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 7:12

    saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

    Read in context