it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
1 Corinthians 13:6
What does 1 Corinthians 13:6 mean?
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
1 Corinthians 13:6
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's so interesting here is that love doesn't just avoid evil; it actively celebrates what is true and good. It's not passive avoidance, but a deep, joyful alignment with reality as God sees it.
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is deep in a discussion about spiritual gifts and how they should be used within the church in Corinth. He’s just described love as patient and kind, contrasting it with pride and rudeness, and now he’s explaining that true love doesn't celebrate or find joy when others stumble or do wrong, but rather delights when truth and righteousness prevail. This comes right before he emphasizes love’s enduring nature, far beyond temporary gifts.
We all love to win, right? But what if our greatest victories aren't in seeing others fall, but in standing with what's right?
This verse flips the script on what 'rejoicing' means. It tells us that genuine love isn't about celebrating someone else's failure or the thrill of being 'right' at their expense.
Not a Fan of Foul Play
A Party With Truth
Ever felt a little too pleased when someone who annoyed you finally gets their comeuppance? The Bible calls that out.
The phrase 'does not rejoice at wrongdoing' cuts right to the heart of a common human temptation: Schadenfreude, that guilty pleasure we sometimes feel when others suffer misfortune.
Ask a follow-up
The Heart of the Matter
Understand the original words
chairei · Greek Verb
To experience joy, gladness, or delight. In a moral sense, it refers to the orientation of one's heart toward something and finding satisfaction in it.
adikia · Greek Noun
An act, state, or practice that is contrary to God’s law, standard, or character; moral unrighteousness or injustice.
alētheia · Greek Noun
That which is consistent with the character, word, and nature of God; divine reality as opposed to human deception or falsehood.
This passage echoes the sentiment by urging believers to 'hate what is evil; cling to what is good,' directly aligning with the 'rejoices with the truth' aspect of love.
1 John 5:2-3It highlights that loving God means keeping His commands, and His commands are not burdensome, showing that true joy is found in obedience to truth, not in sin.
Galatians 5:22-23The fruits of the Spirit listed here, such as joy, faithfulness, and self-control, are the very qualities that enable a person to rejoice with truth rather than wrongdoing.
Proverbs 16:12This proverb speaks to the righteousness of kings and rulers, suggesting that doing what is right (truth) establishes their throne, a principle that applies to how love operates—upholding what is true and just.
What's so interesting here is that love doesn't just avoid evil; it actively celebrates what is true and good. It's not passive avoidance, but a deep, joyful alignment with reality as God sees it.
Paul is deep in a discussion about spiritual gifts and how they should be used within the church in Corinth. He’s just described love as patient and kind, contrasting it with pride and rudeness, and now he’s explaining that true love doesn't celebrate or find joy when others stumble or do wrong, but rather delights when truth and righteousness prevail. This comes right before he emphasizes love’s enduring nature, far beyond temporary gifts.
Paul is deep in a discussion about spiritual gifts and how they should be used within the church in Corinth. He’s just described love as patient and kind, contrasting it with pride and rudeness, and now he’s explaining that true love doesn't celebrate or find joy when others stumble or do wrong, but rather delights when truth and righteousness prevail. This comes right before he emphasizes love’s enduring nature, far beyond temporary gifts.
"it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." — What's so interesting here is that love doesn't just avoid evil; it actively celebrates what is true and good. It's not passive avoidance, but a deep, joyful alignment with reality as God sees it.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026