1 Corinthians 14 · Verse 15

1 Corinthians 14:15

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.
1 Corinthians 14:15, King James Version

1 Corinthians 14:15 in other translations

BSBWhat 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.
WEBWhat should I do? 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.
ASVWhat 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.
YLTWhat then is it? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing psalms with the spirit, and I will sing psalms also with the understanding;
DARBYWhat is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing also with the understanding.
BBEWhat then? let my prayer be from the spirit, and equally from the mind; let my song be from the spirit, and equally from mind.
WebsterWhat 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.

What does 1 Corinthians 14:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. 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 Roman and Greek practice of keeping liturgies in dead languages, which long since have become unintelligible to the masses; though their forefathers spoke them at a time when those liturgies were framed for general use.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. What 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 Rom 3:9, 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, etc. I will endeavour to blend all the advantages which can be derived from prayer; I will unite all the benefits which can result to myself and to others. I deem it of vast importance to pray with the spirit in such a way that the heart and the affections may be engaged, so that I may myself derive benefit from it; but I will also unite with that, utility to others; I will use such language that they may understand it, and be profited.

And I will pray with the understanding also. So that others may understand me. I will make the appropriate use of the intellect, so that it may convey ideas, and make suitable impressions on the minds of others.

I will sing with the spirit. It is evident that the same thing might take place in singing which occurred in prayer. It might be in a foreign language, and might be unintelligible to others. The affections of the man himself might be excited, and his heart engaged in the duty, but it would be profitless to others. Paul, therefore, says that he would so celebrate the praises of God, as to excite the proper affections in his own mind, and so as to be intelligible and profitable to others. This passage proves,

(1.) that the praises of God are to be celebrated among Christians, and that it is an important part of worship;

(2.) that the heart should be engaged in it, and that it should be so performed as to excite proper affections in the hearts of those who are engaged in it; and,

(3.) that it should be so done as to be intelligible and edifying to others. The words should be so uttered as to be distinct and understood. There should be clear enunciation as well as in prayer and preaching, since the design of sacred music in the worship of God is not only to utter praise, but it is to impress the sentiments which are sung on the heart, by the aid of musical sounds and expression, more deeply than could otherwise be done. If this is not done, the singing might as well be in a foreign language. Perhaps there is no part of public worship in which there is greater imperfection than in the mode of its psalmody. At the same time, there is scarcely any part of the devotions of the sanctuary that may be made more edifying or impressive. It has the advantage--an advantage which preaching and praying have not--of using the sweet tones of melody and harmony to impress sentiment on the heart; and it should be done.

(a) "spirit" Jn 4:24 (b) "sing" Eph 5:19, Col 3:16 (c) "understanding" Ps 46:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:15-25
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 to the arts of mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderful power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Corinthians 14:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τίtiWhatG5101
οὖνounthenG3767
ἐστιν;estinis it?G1510
προσεύξομαιproseuxomaiI will prayG4336
τῷtōwith theG3588
πνεύματι,pneumatispirit,G4151
προσεύξομαιproseuxomaiI will prayG4336
δὲdehoweverG1161
καὶkaialsoG2532
τῷtōwith theG3588
νοΐ·noimind;G3563
ψαλῶpsalōI will sing praiseG5567
τῷtōwith theG3588
πνεύματι,pneumatispirit,G4151
ψαλῶpsalōI will sing praiseG5567
δὲdehoweverG1161
καὶkaialsoG2532
τῷtōwith theG3588
νοΐ.noimind.G3563

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 14:15

  • Colossians 3:16

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  • Ephesians 6:18

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

  • John 4:23-24

    But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

  • Ephesians 5:17-20

    Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

  • Jude 1:20

    But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

  • Romans 12:1-2

    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

  • Psalms 47:7

    For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:19

    Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

  • Philippians 1:18

    What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

  • Romans 3:5

    But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

  • 1 Corinthians 10:19

    What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

  • Romans 1:9

    For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
What.
10:19; Ro 3:5; 8:31; Php 1:18
I will pray with the spirit.
19; Joh 4:23,24; Ro 1:9; Eph 5:17-20; 6:18; Col 3:16; Jude 1:20
and I will sing.
Ps 47:7; Ro 12:1,2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 14:14

    For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:15

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:16

    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?

Read all of 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Qué pues? Oraré con el espíritu, mas oraré también con entendimiento; cantaré con el espíritu, mas cantaré también con entendimiento.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qu’est-ce donc? Je prierai avec l’esprit, mais je prierai aussi avec l’intelligence; je chanterai avec l’esprit, mais je chanterai aussi avec l’intelligence.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was ist es nun? Ich will beten mit dem Geiste, aber ich will auch beten mit dem Verstande; ich will lobsingen mit dem Geiste, aber ich will auch lobsingen mit dem Verstande.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quid ergo est? Orabo spiritu, orabo et mente: psallam spiritu, psallam et mente.