If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
- 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.
- NASB If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
- NLT If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even speaking in human or angelic tongues without love is mere noise. Love, not eloquence, gives speech its worth.
Overview
Paul opens his great chapter on love by addressing the gift the Corinthians prized most. Without love, even the most impressive speech is empty clamor like a gong or cymbal. This sets the theme: spiritual gifts are worthless apart from the love that should animate them, the love supremely shown in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 1:5but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith;
- 1 Pet 4:8And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
- Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
- 1 Cor 13:8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
- Gal 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
- 1 Cor 13:2–3If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
- 1 Cor 8:1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
- 2 Pet 2:18For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
- Matt 25:45“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’
- 1 Cor 14:6–8But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
- Rom 14:15Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
- 1 Cor 12:8For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
- 1 Cor 12:29–30Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?
- 1 Cor 12:16If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.
- 2 Cor 12:4how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 13:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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