English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 13:4
4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
1 Corinthians 13:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
- New International Version (NIV)Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
Context of 1 Corinthians 13:4
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. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 131 Corinthians 13:4 word by word
Ἡ ἀγάπη μακροθυμεῖ, χρηστεύεται, ἡ ἀγάπη οὐ ζηλοῖ, ἡ ἀγάπη οὐ περπερεύεται, οὐ φυσιοῦται,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 13:4
- Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;
- Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Ephesians 4:2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- Colossians 1:11being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
- Colossians 3:12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
- 2 Timothy 2:25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
- 2 Timothy 3:10You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
- 2 Timothy 4:2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
- 1 Peter 4:8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
- Nehemiah 9:17They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.
- Proverbs 19:22What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.
- Proverbs 31:20She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
- Luke 6:35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
- Ephesians 4:32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4(1.) Charity suffereth long - , Has a long mind; to the end of which neither trials, adversities, persecutions, nor provocations, can reach. The love of God, and of our neighbor for God's sake, is patient towards all men: it suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, and infirmities of the children of God; and all the malice and wickedness of the children of this world; and all this, not merely for a time, but long, without end; for it is still a mind…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Charity suffereth long - Paul now proceeds to illustrate the “nature” of love, or to show how it is exemplified. His illustrations are all drawn from its effect in regulating our conduct toward others, or our contact with them. The “reason” why he made use of this illustration, rather than its nature as evinced toward “God,” was, probably, because it was especially necessary for them to understand in what way it should be manifested toward each other…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-7Verses 4-7 Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may know whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not rest till we have it. This love is a clear proof of regeneration, and is a touchstone of our professed faith in Christ. In this beautiful description of the nature and effects of love, it is meant to show the Corinthians that their conduct had, in many respects, been a contrast to it. Charity is an utter enemy to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-7This description of Christian love highlights the readiness to sacrifice personal desires for the benefit of others (see also 8:1–10:33; Romans 5:6–8; 15:3; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:4–8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. suffereth long--under provocations of evil from others. The negative side of love. is kind--the positive side. Extending good to others. Compare with love's features here those of the "wisdom from above" (Jas 3:17). envieth--The Greek includes also jealousy. vaunteth not--in words, even of gifts which it really possesses; an indirect rebuke of those at Corinth who used the gift of tongues for mere display. not puffed up--with party zeal, as some at…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 13:4
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries