1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Text
King James Version (KJV)
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.
World English Bible (WEB)
Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
What 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Means
Paul describes love by what it does, not by what it feels. In these four verses he lists about fifteen traits: patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, and not keeping a record of wrongs. It rejoices with truth and not with wrongdoing, and it bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. The KJV uses "charity," an older English word for the Greek agape, a self-giving love; modern versions, including the WEB, simply use "love." The list is practical and often uncomfortable, because it reads as a mirror. "Believes all things" is not gullibility but readiness to give others the benefit of the doubt. Though common at weddings, it was written for a church full of rivalry.
Context of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to the church in Corinth, a busy Greek port city, probably from Ephesus around AD 53 to 55. The congregation was divided and proud of its spiritual gifts. Chapter 13 sits between two chapters about those gifts, and it argues that gifts without love are empty. Just before, Paul says that even speaking in angelic tongues or giving away everything profits nothing without love. Just after, he says that love never ends, unlike prophecies and tongues. To read the whole book, see random verse from 1 Corinthians.
How to Apply 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Read the list and substitute your own name for "love," then notice which line stings. Choose one to practice this week: perhaps patience with a family member or letting go of a grudge. The point is growth, not self-criticism. Love like this is learned slowly, and God is described as patient with us too.
Related Verses
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
- 1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
- Colossians 3:12-14 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
- 1 Peter 4:8 – And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Love, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does love is patient and kind mean in 1 Corinthians 13?
It is the start of Paul's description of love as action: patience with others' faults and kindness in how we treat them. He then lists behaviors that love avoids, such as envy, pride, and keeping score.
Is 1 Corinthians 13 about marriage?
It is often read at weddings and applies well to marriage, but Paul wrote it to a divided church. It describes the kind of love Christians should show everyone, including family, friends, and fellow believers.
Want a different verse? Try the Bible verse randomizer or browse all popular Bible verses.