God & Savior

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
1 Corinthians 13:4
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Study notes

Love is patient and kind; it does not envy, boast or act proudly.

Explanation

Paul has been writing about spiritual gifts (chapter 12). He now shows that without love, even the greatest gifts are worth nothing (13:1-3). Verses 4-7 describe what love does and does not do.

Original language
  • ἀγάπη (agapē): love
    Greek · Noun, nominative, singular, feminine · Strong's G0026 · text: NA28 (as recorded in TAGNT)

    Love (agapē): self-giving love.

    Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAGNT: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, word 2

  • μακροθυμεῖ (makrothumei): to have patience
    Greek · Verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular · Strong's G3114 · text: NA28 (as recorded in TAGNT)

    Is patient: slow to anger.

    Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAGNT: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, word 3

  • χρηστεύεται (chrēsteuetai): be kind
    Greek · Verb, present, middle or passive (deponent), indicative, 3rd person singular · Strong's G5541 · text: NA28 (as recorded in TAGNT)

    Is kind.

    Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAGNT: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, word 4

  • ζηλοῖ (zēloi): be eager
    Greek · Verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular · Strong's G2206 · text: NA28 (as recorded in TAGNT)

    Is envious, jealous.

    Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAGNT: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, word 8

  • περπερεύεται (perpereuetai): to boast
    Greek · Verb, present, middle or passive (deponent), indicative, 3rd person singular · Strong's G4068 · text: NA28 (as recorded in TAGNT)

    Boasts.

    Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAGNT: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, word 12

  • φυσιοῦται (phusioutai): to inflate
    Greek · Verb, present, passive, indicative, 3rd person singular · Strong's G5448 · text: NA28 (as recorded in TAGNT)

    Is puffed up, proud.

    Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAGNT: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, word 14

Cross-references
  • 1 Corinthians 13:5 · Surrounding passage

    It is not rude or self-seeking.

  • Galatians 5:22 · Same theme

    The fruit of the Spirit includes love, patience and kindness.

  • Colossians 3:12 · Same theme

    Clothe yourselves with kindness, humility and patience.

Sources

Original language and places

Reference data from open datasets, shown as published by their sources. Word-by-word English is a literal guide, not a translation.

Original language (Greek)

Ἡ ἀγάπη μακροθυμεῖ, χρηστεύεται, ἡ ἀγάπη οὐ ζηλοῖ, ἡ ἀγάπη οὐ περπερεύεται, οὐ φυσιοῦται,

  1. ἩHē“<the>”
    Article, nominative, singular, feminine · from ὁ · “the/this/who” · Strong's G3588
  2. ἀγάπηagapē“Love”
    Noun, nominative, singular, feminine · “love” · Strong's G0026
  3. μακροθυμεῖ,makrothumei“is patient,”
    Verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular · from μακροθυμέω · “to have patience” · Strong's G3114
  4. χρηστεύεται,chrēsteuetai“is kind,”
    Verb, present, middle or passive (deponent), indicative, 3rd person singular · from χρηστεύομαι · “be kind” · Strong's G5541
  5. ἡhē“<the>”
    Article, nominative, singular, feminine · from ὁ · “the/this/who” · Strong's G3588
  6. ἀγάπηagapē“love”
    Noun, nominative, singular, feminine · “love” · Strong's G0026
  7. οὐou“not”
    Particle, negative · “no” · Strong's G3756
  8. ζηλοῖ,zēloi“is envious,”
    Verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular · from ζηλόω · “be eager” · Strong's G2206
  9. ἡhē“<the>”
    Article, nominative, singular, feminine · from ὁ · “the/this/who” · Strong's G3588
  10. ἀγάπηagapē“love”
    Noun, nominative, singular, feminine · “love” · Strong's G0026
  11. οὐou“not”
    Particle, negative · “no” · Strong's G3756
  12. περπερεύεται,perpereuetai“is boastful,”
    Verb, present, middle or passive (deponent), indicative, 3rd person singular · from περπερεύομαι · “to boast” · Strong's G4068
  13. οὐou“not”
    Particle, negative · “no” · Strong's G3756
  14. φυσιοῦται,phusioutai“is puffed up,”
    Verb, present, passive, indicative, 3rd person singular · from φυσιόω · “to inflate” · Strong's G5448
  • Prepared by the God & Savior team. Not yet reviewed by an editor.
  • Greek words: STEP Bible (STEPBible.org), based on work at Tyndale House, Cambridge. CC BY 4.0. Source (version ed476a8)

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