1 Corinthians 13:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Love takes no secret pleasure in what is wrong, and it gladly sides with the truth.
What Does 1 Corinthians 13:6 Mean?
Here Paul names where love finds its joy. It does not rejoice in iniquity, that quiet satisfaction we can feel when someone we dislike stumbles, or when gossip turns out to be true. Love takes no pleasure in another person's wrongdoing or downfall. Instead it rejoices in the truth, gladdened when what is right and real comes to light. Picture two ways of hearing bad news about someone: one heart leans in eager, the other grieves. Love is the heart that grieves over sin and celebrates when truth wins, even truth that costs us something.
This points us straight to Jesus, who is Himself the truth (John 14:6) and who came full of grace and truth. He never delighted in anyone's ruin; He wept over a city and welcomed the broken home. To love as He loves is to want the truth for people, and to want their good even when their failure might have served us. His joy was always in what is real and right, and He is teaching us that same joy.
1 Corinthians 13:6 in the Original Language
adikia (ἀδικία), 'iniquity' -- wrongdoing, injustice, what is unrighteous; love refuses to celebrate it.
How to Apply 1 Corinthians 13:6 Today
There is a quiet test of love in how we react to news of someone's failure: a flicker of satisfaction, or genuine grief. Love refuses to enjoy what is wrong, even in those we struggle with, and it rejoices when truth comes to light. We can ask the One who is the truth to give us that kind of joy.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 13:6
What does 1 Corinthians 13:6 mean?
Love takes no secret pleasure in what is wrong, and it gladly sides with the truth.
How can I apply 1 Corinthians 13:6 today?
There is a quiet test of love in how we react to news of someone's failure: a flicker of satisfaction, or genuine grief. Love refuses to enjoy what is wrong, even in those we struggle with, and it rejoices when truth comes to light. We can ask the One who is the truth to give us that kind of joy.