charity meaning in the KJV

Meaning in context

Charity is not confined to giving money or goods. The description in 1 Corinthians 13 concerns patience, kindness, humility, truth, and enduring love.

The chapter distinguishes giving possessions away from having charity. Verse 3 makes clear that generosity by itself does not establish that the giver has the love being described.

In 1 Corinthians 8:1, charity is contrasted with knowledge that puffs up and is said to edify. Read the whole discussion about care for others rather than reducing the word to a charitable organisation or a single act of donation.

KJV examples

1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

Charity builds up in the contrast with knowledge that puffs up.

1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Giving goods to feed the poor is distinguished from possessing charity.

1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

The verse describes the character and behaviour of charity.

First exact-word occurrence

1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

This is the earliest occurrence of this exact English spelling in canonical KJV Bible order. A related word form, a subject, or a person may appear earlier.

Find every occurrence

The exact English word charity appears 28 times in 24 KJV verses. Counts ignore letter case and exclude other spellings and word forms.

For original-language details, select the word in the particular chapter. A word can represent different terms or constructions in different verses.

Related word studies

• conversation

  Conversation often means conduct or manner of life in the KJV; Philippians 3:20 concerns heavenly citizenship.

• peculiar

  Peculiar describes a special possession or a people belonging to God in these KJV passages.

Study method

These explanations are separate study notes. Every Scripture quotation above is copied from the existing KJV chapter text. Read the whole chapter and compare the setting before applying a meaning to another occurrence.

• Difficult and archaic KJV words
• Methodology and sources