Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

1 Corinthians 13:1–8

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

8 selected · 2 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

40 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 1

  1. 1 Peter 4:8Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

  2. 1 Timothy 1:5Rank 2 from verse 1
    Open

    5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

  3. Galatians 5:22Rank 3 from verse 1
    Open

    22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  4. 1 Corinthians 13:8Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

  5. Galatians 5:6Rank 5 from verse 1
    Open

    6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

From verse 2

  1. 1 John 4:8Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

  2. 1 Corinthians 13:3Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

  3. 1 John 4:20–21Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

    21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

  4. Matthew 17:20Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

  5. Matthew 21:21Rank 5 from verse 2
    Open

    21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

From verse 3

  1. James 2:14–17Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

    15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

    16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

    17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

  2. John 15:13Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

  3. Matthew 23:5Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

  4. Matthew 6:1–4Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    1TAKE heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

    2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

    3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

    4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

  5. Matthew 7:22–23Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

    23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

From verse 4

  1. 1 Peter 4:8Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

  2. Ephesians 4:32Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

  3. Galatians 5:21–22Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

    22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  4. Proverbs 10:12Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

  5. Colossians 3:12Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

From verse 5

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:24Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    24Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

  2. Philippians 2:3–5Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

    4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

    5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

  3. 1 John 3:16–17Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

    17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

  4. James 1:19Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  5. Philippians 2:21Rank 5 from verse 5
    Open

    21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

From verse 6

  1. Romans 12:9Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

  2. 3 John 1:3–4Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

    4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

  3. 2 John 1:4Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

  4. Romans 1:32Rank 4 from verse 6
    Open

    32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:12Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

From verse 7

  1. 1 Peter 4:8Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

  2. 1 Corinthians 13:4Rank 2 from verse 7
    Open

    4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

  3. 1 Peter 2:24Rank 3 from verse 7
    Open

    24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  4. 2 Timothy 2:24Rank 4 from verse 7
    Open

    24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

  5. Proverbs 10:12Rank 5 from verse 7
    Open

    12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

From verse 8

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:13Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

  2. 1 Corinthians 13:1–2Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    1THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

    2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

  3. Galatians 5:6Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

  4. 1 Corinthians 13:10Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

  5. Acts 2:4Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 13:1

COMBINED MEANING

speak

↗

Sense 1: To utter words or articulate sounds, or to use a language. Sense 2: To address or converse with someone. Sense 3: To state, declare, make mention of, or otherwise make a matter known.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

tongues

↗

Tongue organs; languages or speech; peoples distinguished by language; or tongue-shaped appearances.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

angels

↗

Sense 1: Messengers. Sense 2: Heavenly or spiritual messengers, whether holy or fallen as stated.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

charity

↗

Love that seeks another's good.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

sounding

↗

Sense 1: Producing or carrying sound; sonorous or resounding. Sense 2: By figure, an inward stirring of compassion or an answering echo or shout.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 13:2

COMBINED MEANING

gift

↗

Sense 1: Something given or bestowed; a present. Sense 2: An endowment or ability. Sense 3: A bribe.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

faith

↗

Sense 1: The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen; trust, confidence, belief, persuasion, or reliance. Sense 2: Faithfulness, fidelity, or trustworthiness. Sense 3: The revealed truth or gospel believed and kept.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

remove

↗

To take or put away in any manner; to cause to leave a person or thing; to banish or destroy. To cause to change place; to put from its place in any manner.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

charity

↗

Love that seeks another's good.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 13:3

COMBINED MEANING

bestow

↗

1. To give or confer upon. 2. To expend or apply for a purpose. 3. To place or store.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

goods

↗

Movables; household furniture. Wares; merchandize; commodities bought and sold by merchants and traders. Personal or movable estate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

feed

↗

Sense 1: To give or take food; to nourish, tend, or graze. Sense 2: Food for animals.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

burned

↗

Sense 1: Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of burn, meaning to consume, injure, heat, dry, or harden by fire or intense heat. Sense 2: To be on fire.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

charity

↗

Love that seeks another's good.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 13:4

COMBINED MEANING

charity

↗

Love that seeks another's good.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

suffereth

↗

Third-person singular present form of suffer. Sense 1: To suffer: to bear, undergo, or endure. Sense 2: To allow or permit.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

long

↗

Sense 1: Extending a great distance or duration. Sense 2: To desire earnestly.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

kind

↗

Sense 1: A class, sort, nature, or group sharing common characteristics. Sense 2: Benevolent, gracious, helpful, or gentle.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 13:5

COMBINED MEANING

behave

↗

To act; to conduct; generally applied to manners, or to conduct in any particular business; and in a good or bad sense.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

provoked

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of provoke, meaning to stir up or incite, whether to anger or to action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thinketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of think. Sense 1: To form or hold a thought. Sense 2: To judge or suppose. Sense 3: To intend. Sense 4: To consider or remember. Sense 5: To imagine or esteem.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 13:6

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

iniquity

↗

Wickedness, unrighteousness, transgression, or sin; the guilt or burden of such wrongdoing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

truth

↗

1. That which is true; conformity to fact or reality. 2. Faithfulness. 3. God's revealed word.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 13:7

COMBINED MEANING

endureth

↗

Sense 1: Continues, remains, lasts, or abides. Sense 2: Bears or withstands hardship.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 13:8

COMBINED MEANING

charity

↗

Love that seeks another's good.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

never

↗

Sense 1: Not ever; at no time or in no case. Sense 2: In never so constructions, however or no matter how much.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fail

↗

Sense 1: To become deficient; to be insufficient; to cease to be abundant for supply. Sense 2: To be entirely wanting.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

tongues

↗

Tongue organs; languages or speech; peoples distinguished by language; or tongue-shaped appearances.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cease

↗

To stop or leave off, to come to an end, or to cause something to stop or end.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

1THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Selected passage

2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Selected passage

3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Selected passage

4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Selected passage

5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Selected passage

6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Selected passage

7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Selected passage

8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Selected passage

9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.