1 Corinthians 13:5
What does 1 Corinthians 13:5 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 13:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 13:5 means
Love behaves with fitting respect; it is not rude or careless of others’ dignity. It does not insist on getting its own way but yields for the sake of another’s good. It is not easily provoked, refusing to fly into anger or take offense quickly. It keeps no ledger of wrongs, choosing not to store grievances for future use. This is not naivety but holiness of heart: love governs speech, tempers desires, subdues irritability, and releases debts. In a church marked by lawsuits and factions, such love would heal many wounds. It prizes unity without papering over sin, because it seeks restoration rather than retaliation.
1 Corinthians 13:5 in context
1 Corinthians 13 — The More Excellent Way
Set in the middle of Paul's discussion of spiritual gifts, this chapter is the great hymn of love. Eloquence without love is noisy brass. Knowledge, faith, and self-sacrifice without love profit nothing. Love is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, does not insist on its own way, is not irritable or resentful, rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Tongues will cease and knowledge pass away, but love never fails.
- Christian love
- Gifts in proportion
- Permanence of love
- Maturity
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
KJV
King James Version · 1611Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Love's ways are ever fair, it takes no thought for itself; it is not quickly made angry, it takes no account of evil;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862doth not act unseemly, doth not seek its own things, is not provoked, doth not impute evil,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890does not behave in an unseemly manner, does not seek what is its own, is not quickly provoked, does not impute evil,
Context
The description continues from verse 4, moving from pride to conduct. Paul addresses how love shows itself in ordinary interactions: manners, preferences, temper, and memory. The corrective targets Corinthian disorders—public shaming at meals, self-assertion in worship, and quick tempers in disputes. Verse 6 will balance this gentleness by showing that love’s kindness does not excuse evil; it aligns with truth. Then verse 7 will summarize love’s resilient posture under pressure.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 5:22
but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33
even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.
- Galatians 6:1
Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- 1 John 3:16
Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- Romans 15:1
Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
- Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Sermon ideas from 1 Corinthians 13:5
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What 1 Corinthians 13:5 teaches us about christian love
What 1 Corinthians 13:5 teaches us about gifts in proportion
What 1 Corinthians 13:5 teaches us about permanence of love
What 1 Corinthians 13:5 teaches us about maturity
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