---
title: "1 Corinthians 14:16-17 KJV - \"Else when thou shalt bless with the sp...\" | Real Bible Believers"
description: "\"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\" — Read 1 Corinthians 14:16-17 in the King James Version (KJV) with commentary, cross references, and Greek/Hebrew lexicon."
image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/kjv/1-corinthians/14/16-17"
---

[ Read](/kjv/1-corinthians/14)[ Commentary](/study/1-corinthians/14)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/1-corinthians/14) Audio

## 1 Corinthians 14:16-17 in Context (Verses 13–20 KJV)
 
 [13 ](/kjv/1-corinthians/14/13) Wherefore let him that speaketh in an *unknown* tongue pray that he may interpret.
 
 [14 ](/kjv/1-corinthians/14/14) For if I pray in an *unknown* tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
 
 [15 ](/kjv/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.
 
 [16 ](/kjv/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?
 
 [17 ](/kjv/1-corinthians/14/17) For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
 
 [18 ](/kjv/1-corinthians/14/18) I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
 
 [19 ](/kjv/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.
 
 [20 ](/kjv/1-corinthians/14/20) Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
 
[1 Corinthians 13](/kjv/1-corinthians/13) [1 Corinthians 15](/kjv/1-corinthians/15)

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