1 Corinthians 13:1

1 Corinthians 13:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
• New International Version (NIV)If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

Context of 1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1 word by word

Ἐὰν ταῖς γλώσσαις τῶν ἀνθρώπων λαλῶ καὶ τῶν ἀγγέλων, ἀγάπην δὲ μὴ ἔχω, γέγονα χαλκὸς ἠχῶν ἢ κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον.Read the interlinear

• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• I speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• in theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• tonguesγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
• of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• of angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• butδέde · thenG1161
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• notμήmē · notG3361
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• I amγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• ringingἠχέωēcheō · to resoundG2278
• gongχαλκόςchalkos · copper/bronze/coinG5475
• orἤē · orG2228
• clangingἀλαλάζωalalazō · to wailG214
• cymbalκύμβαλονkumbalon · cymbalG2950

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 13:1

• 1 Corinthians 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 12:8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
• 1 Corinthians 14:6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
• 2 Corinthians 12:4was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.
• 2 Peter 2:18With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
• Matthew 25:45Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’
• Romans 14:15If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
• 1 Timothy 1:5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
• 1 Corinthians 14:7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Though I speak, etc. - At the conclusion of the preceding chapter the apostle promised to show the Corinthians a more excellent way than that in which they were now proceeding. They were so distracted with contentions, divided by parties, and envious of each other's gifts, that unity was nearly destroyed. This was a full proof that love to God and man was wanting; and that without this, their numerous gifts and other graces were nothing in the eyes of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Though I speak with the tongues of men - Though I should be able to speak all the languages which are spoken by people. To speak foreign languages was regarded then, as it is now, as a rare and valuable endowment; compare Virgil, Aeneas vi. 625ff. The word “I” here is used in a popular sense, and the apostle designs to illustrate, as he often does, his idea by a reference to himself, which, it is evident, he wishes to be understood as applying to those…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The necessity and advantage of the grace of love. (1-3) Its excellency represented by its properties and effects; (4-7) and by its abiding, and its superiority. (8-13) Verses 1-3 The excellent way had in view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning; true love to God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1tongues of men and of angels: The Corinthians valued the spiritual gift of tongues the most (see also 12:10, 28; 14:1–25, 27). Some believed tongues were the language of angels. In Acts, Luke uses the same term for natural human languages (see Acts 2:4–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131Co 13:1-13. Charity or Love Superior to All Gifts. The New Testament psalm of love, as the forty-fifth Psalm (see Psa 45:1, title) and the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament. 1. tongues--from these he ascends to "prophecy" (1Co 13:2); then, to "faith"; then to benevolent and self-sacrificing deeds: a climax. He does not except even himself, and so passes from addressing them ("unto you," 1Co 12:31) to putting the case in his own person, "Though I," &c…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 13:1

• Brass
• Charitableness
• Cymbal
• Graces
• Hypocrisy
• Love
• Readings, Select
• Religion
• Righteousness
• Sanctification
• Testimony
• Uncharitableness
• Works
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Brass
• Charity
• Childish
• Cymbals
• Love
• Prophesy
• Tongues, Gift of
• Vaunt
• Abstinence
• Busybody

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings