English Standard Version
Romans 12:9
9Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Context of Romans 12:9
7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in 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 20:9And Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- Psalms 55:21His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
- Proverbs 26:25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
- Ezekiel 33:31And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
- Matthew 26:49And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him.
- John 12:6He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;
- 2 Corinthians 8:8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,
- 1 Timothy 1:5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
- James 2:15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
- 1 Peter 1:22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
- 1 Peter 4:8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
- 1 John 3:18Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
- Psalms 34:14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
- Psalms 36:4He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries