1 Corinthians 14:16 “Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is u…”

1 Corinthians 14:16

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?

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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?

World English Bible

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?

American Standard Version

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?

Geneva Bible 1599

Else, when thou blessest with the spirit, howe shall hee that occupieth the roome of the vnlearned, say Amen, at thy giuing of thankes, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?

Darby Translation

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?

Young's Literal Translation

since, if thou mayest bless with the spirit, he who is filling the place of the unlearned, how shall he say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, since what thou dost say he hath not known?

Bible in Basic English

For if you give a blessing with the spirit, how will the man who has no knowledge say, So be it, after your prayer, seeing that he has not taken in what you are saying?

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Cross references

“bless”

1 Corinthians 14:2 1 Corinthians 14:14

1 Corinthians 14:2 · BSB

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:14 · BSB

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

“unlearned”

John 7:15 Acts 4:13 1 Corinthians 14:23 1 Corinthians 14:24 Isaiah 29:11 Isaiah 29:12

John 7:15 · BSB

The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”

Acts 4:13 · BSB

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

1 Corinthians 14:23 · BSB

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

1 Corinthians 14:24 · BSB

But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

Isaiah 29:11 · BSB

And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.”

Isaiah 29:12 · BSB

Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.”

“Amen”

1 Chronicles 16:36 Psalm 106:48 Revelation 5:14 1 Corinthians 11:24 Deuteronomy 27:15–26 Jeremiah 28:6

1 Chronicles 16:36 · BSB

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

Psalm 106:48 · BSB

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

Revelation 5:14 · BSB

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

1 Corinthians 11:24 · BSB

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.”

Deuteronomy 27:15–26 · BSB

‘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!’

Jeremiah 28:6 · BSB

“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.

“at”

1 Corinthians 1:4–8

1 Corinthians 1:4–8 · BSB

I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.

Also

Nehemiah 8:6 Revelation 7:12 Jeremiah 11:5 Nehemiah 5:13

Nehemiah 8:6 · BSB

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.

Revelation 7:12 · BSB

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

Jeremiah 11:5 · BSB

This was in order to establish the oath I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is to this day.” “Amen, LORD,” I answered.

Nehemiah 5:13 · BSB

I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said,…

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

15What 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.

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

Read 1 Corinthians 14