KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)
TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT
To get what 1 Corinthians 14:14 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity.
“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”
What does this verse really mean? Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Greek Scripture. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1].
| KJV Verse | Original Greek | Meaning/ Definition This is a simplified translation of the original Greek word. Follow the buttons on the right to get more detail. | More Use the buttons below to get details on the Greek word and view related Bible verses that use the same root word. |
|---|---|---|---|
| “For” | γὰρ | Properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles) | For |
| “if” | ἐὰν | A conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty | if |
| “I pray” | προσεύχωμαι | To pray to God, i.e., supplicate, worship | pray |
| “in an tongue,” | γλώσσῃ | The tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired) | tongue |
| “unknown” | (No Greek definition. English implied.) | ||
| “my” | μου | Of me | my |
| “spirit” | πνεῦμά | A current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit | spirit |
| “prayeth,” | προσεύχεται | To pray to God, i.e., supplicate, worship | prayeth |
| “but” | δὲ | But, and, etc | but |
| “my” | μου | Of me | my |
| “understanding” | νοῦς | The intellect, i.e., mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication, meaning | understanding |
| “is” | ἐστιν | He (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are | is |
| “unfruitful.” | ἄκαρπός | Barren (literally or figuratively) | unfruitful |
See 1 Corinthians 14:14 with its adjacent verses in bold below. Follow either of the two large buttons below to see these verses in their broader context of the King James Bible or a Bible concordance.
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12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
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.
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?
The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool.