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

I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. 2I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me.

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 13:2I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have love, I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 12:8The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The same Spirit gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge.
• 1 Corinthians 14:6Brothers and sisters, it wouldn’t do you any good if I came to you speaking in other languages, unless I explained revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine to you.
• 2 Corinthians 12:4was snatched away to paradise where he heard things that can’t be expressed in words, things that humans cannot put into words. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows.
• 2 Peter 2:18They arrogantly use nonsense to seduce people by appealing to their sexual desires, especially to sexual freedom. They seduce people who have just escaped from those who live in error.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now, concerning food offered to false gods: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up.
• Matthew 25:45“He will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant ⌞they seemed⌟, you failed to do for me.’
• Romans 14:15So if what you eat hurts another Christian, you are no longer living by love. Don’t destroy anyone by what you eat. Christ died for that person.
• Galatians 5:6As far as our relationship to Christ Jesus is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether we are circumcised or not. But what matters is a faith that expresses itself through love.
• 1 Timothy 1:5My goal in giving you this order is for love to flow from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith.
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins.
• 1 Corinthians 14:7Musical instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. If there is no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being 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