1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 13:1–8

¹If 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,^a but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. ⁶Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.

Footnotes

a 13:3 SBL, NE, BYZ, and TR surrender my body to be burned

Read all of 1 Corinthians 13

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Corinthians 13:1

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	Ἐὰν	Ean	Conjunction	G1437 if
I speak	λαλῶ	lalō	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G2980 I speak, say
in the	ταῖς	tais	Article - Dative Feminine Plural	G3588 the
tongues	γλώσσαις	glōssais	Noun - Dative Feminine Plural	G1100 the tongue, a language, nation
of men	ἀνθρώπων	anthrōpōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G444 a man, one of the human race
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
of angels	ἀγγέλων	angelōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G32 an angel, messenger
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
have	ἔχω	echō	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G2192 I have, hold, possess
not	μὴ	mē	Adverb	G3361 not, lest
love	ἀγάπην	agapēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G26 love
I am	γέγονα	gegona	Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular	G1096 I come into being, am born
ringing	ἠχῶν	ēchōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2278 I make a sound, sound when struck
gong	χαλκὸς	chalkos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G5475 copper, brass, money
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
clanging	ἀλαλάζον	alalazon	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Singular	G214 I cry aloud, a clanging or clashing cymbal
cymbal	κύμβαλον	kymbalon	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G2950 a cymbal

1 Corinthians 13:2

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	ἐὰν	ean	Conjunction	G1437 if
I have	ἔχω	echō	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G2192 I have, hold, possess
the gift of prophecy	προφητείαν	prophēteian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G4394 prophecy
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
can fathom	εἰδῶ	eidō	Verb - Perfect Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G1492 I know, remember
all	πάντα	panta	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
mysteries	μυστήρια	mystēria	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3466 anything hidden, a mystery
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
all	πᾶσαν	pasan	Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
knowledge	γνῶσιν	gnōsin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1108 knowledge, doctrine, wisdom
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
if	ἐὰν	ean	Conjunction	G1437 if
I have	ἔχω	echō	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G2192 I have, hold, possess
absolute	πᾶσαν	pasan	Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
faith	πίστιν	pistin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G4102 faith, belief, trust
so as	ὥστε	hōste	Conjunction	G5620 so that, therefore
to move	μεθιστάναι	methistanai	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G3179 I move out of its place, transfer
mountains	ὄρη	orē	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3735 a mountain
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
have	ἔχω	echō	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G2192 I have, hold, possess
not	μὴ	mē	Adverb	G3361 not, lest
love	ἀγάπην	agapēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G26 love
I am	εἰμι	eimi	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
nothing	οὐθέν	outhen	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3762 no one, none, nothing

1 Corinthians 13:3

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	ἐὰν	ean	Conjunction	G1437 if
I give	ψωμίσω	psōmisō	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G5595 I feed, dole out
all	πάντα	panta	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
I	μου	mou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
possess	ὑπάρχοντά	hyparchonta	Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural	G5225 I am, exist, am in possession
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
exult	καυχήσωμαι	kauchēsōmai	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person Singular	G2744 I boast, glory
in the surrender	παραδῶ	paradō	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G3860 I hand over, deliver, betray
of my	μου	mou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
body	σῶμά	sōma	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G4983 body, flesh
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
have	ἔχω	echō	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular	G2192 I have, hold, possess
not	μὴ	mē	Adverb	G3361 not, lest
love	ἀγάπην	agapēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G26 love
I gain	ὠφελοῦμαι	ōpheloumai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular	G5623 I help, benefit, do good
nothing	οὐδὲν	ouden	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3762 no one, none, nothing

1 Corinthians 13:4

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Love	ἀγάπη	agapē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G26 love
is patient	μακροθυμεῖ	makrothymei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3114 I suffer long, have patience, am forbearing
love	ἀγάπη	agapē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G26 love
is kind	χρηστεύεται	chrēsteuetai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G5541 I am kind
does not envy	ζηλοῖ	zēloi	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2206 I am jealous, eager for
it does not boast	περπερεύεται	perpereuetai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G4068 I boast
it is not proud	φυσιοῦται	physioutai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G5448 I inflate, puff up

1 Corinthians 13:5

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
It is not rude	ἀσχημονεῖ	aschēmonei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G807 I act improperly, unseemly
it is not self-seeking	ζητεῖ	zētei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2212 I seek, search for, desire
it is not easily angered	παροξύνεται	paroxynetai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G3947 I provoke, irritate
it keeps no account	λογίζεται	logizetai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G3049 I reckon, count, decide
of wrongs	κακόν	kakon	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G2556 bad, evil

1 Corinthians 13:6

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
takes no pleasure	χαίρει	chairei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G5463 I rejoice, am glad
in	ἐπὶ	epi	Preposition	G1909 on, to, against, on the basis of, at
evil	ἀδικίᾳ	adikia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G93 unrighteousness
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
rejoices	συνχαίρει	synchairei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4796 I rejoice with
in the	τῇ	tē	Article - Dative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
truth	ἀληθείᾳ	alētheia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G225 truth

1 Corinthians 13:7

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
It bears	στέγει	stegei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4722 I cover, conceal, bear with
all things	πάντα	panta	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
believes	πιστεύει	pisteuei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4100 I believe, have faith in
all things	πάντα	panta	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
hopes	ἐλπίζει	elpizei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1679 I hope, hope for, expect
all things	πάντα	panta	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
endures	ὑπομένει	hypomenei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G5278 I remain behind, endure
all things	πάντα	panta	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of

1 Corinthians 13:8

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Love	ἀγάπη	agapē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G26 love
never	οὐδέποτε	oudepote	Adverb	G3763 never
fails	πίπτει	piptei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4098 I fall, fall under
But	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
where	εἴτε	eite	Conjunction	G1535 and if, whether
prophecies	προφητεῖαι	prophēteiai	Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural	G4394 prophecy
they will cease	καταργηθήσονται	katargēthēsontai	Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural	G2673 I bring to naught, sever, abolish
where	εἴτε	eite	Conjunction	G1535 and if, whether
tongues	γλῶσσαι	glōssai	Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural	G1100 the tongue, a language, nation
they will be restrained	παύσονται	pausontai	Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural	G3973 I cause to cease
where	εἴτε	eite	Conjunction	G1535 and if, whether
knowledge	γνῶσις	gnōsis	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1108 knowledge, doctrine, wisdom
it will be dismissed	καταργηθήσεται	katargēthēsetai	Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G2673 I bring to naught, sever, abolish