Christian Standard Bible
Romans 12:9
9Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
- New International Version (NIV)Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Context of Romans 12:9
7if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.
Read all of Romans 12Romans 12:9 word by word
Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος. ἀποστυγοῦντες τὸ πονηρόν, κολλώμενοι τῷ ἀγαθῷ·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Romans 12:9
- 2 Samuel 20:9Joab asked Amasa, “Are you well, my brother?” Then with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
- Psalms 55:21His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.
- Proverbs 26:25When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart.
- Ezekiel 33:31So my people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit.
- Matthew 26:49So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
- John 12:6He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
- 2 Corinthians 8:8I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive.
- 1 Timothy 1:5Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
- James 2:15If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food
- 1 Peter 1:22Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,
- 1 Peter 4:8Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.
- 1 John 3:18Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.
- Psalms 34:14Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.
- Psalms 36:4Even on his bed he makes malicious plans. He sets himself on a path that is not good, and he does not reject evil.
Commentaries on Romans 12:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Let love be without dissimulation - ̔ · Have no hypocritical love; let not your love wear a mask; make no empty professions. Love God and your neighbor; and, by obedience to the one and acts of benevolence to the other, show that your love is sincere. Abhor that which is evil - · Hate sin as you would hate that hell to which it leads. signifies to hate or detest with horror; the preposition greatly strengthens the meaning. , Styx, was a feigned river in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Let love - The apostle proceeds to specify the duties of Christians in general, that they might secure the beauty and order of the church. The first which he specifies is love. This word here evidently refers to benevolence, or to good-will toward all mankind. In Romans 12:10 he specifies the duty of brotherly love; and there can be no doubt that he here refers to the benevolence which we ought to cherish toward all people. A similar distinction is found…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-16Verses 9-16 The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This denotes the love of parents to their children; which is more tender…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-21The many instructions in these verses are not arranged in a strict or orderly pattern. The main theme, stated at the beginning, is sincere love. Paul explains how believers should show love to people inside the church (12:10, 13, 15–16). He also explains how they should show love to people outside the church (12:14, 17–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Let love be without dissimulation--"Let your love be unfeigned" (as in 2Co 6:6; 1Pe 2:22; and see 1Jo 3:18). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good--What a lofty tone of moral principle and feeling is here inculcated! It is not, Abstain from the one, and do the other; nor, Turn away from the one, and draw to the other; but, Abhor the one, and cling, with deepest sympathy, to the other.Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 12:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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