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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong 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 a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thoughἐάνean · ifG1437
• I speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• with the tonguesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• with the tonguesγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
• of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• of angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• andδέde · thenG1161
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• notμήmē · notG3361
• charityἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• I am becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• soundingἠχέωēcheō · to resoundG2278
• brassχαλκόςchalkos · copper/bronze/coinG5475
• orἤē · orG2228
• a tinklingἀλαλάζωalalazō · to wailG214
• cymbalκύμβαλονkumbalon · cymbalG2950

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 13:1

• 1 Corinthians 13:2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 12:8For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to 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 12:4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
• 2 Peter 2:18For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
• Matthew 25:45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
• Romans 14:15For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
• 1 Timothy 1:5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
• 1 Corinthians 14:7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?

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