God’s Word Translation
Romans 12:9
9Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on 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 your gift is serving, then devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. 8If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully. Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good. 10Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other. 11Don’t be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to 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 20:9“How are you, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. He took hold of Amasa’s beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- Psalms 55:21His speech is smoother than butter, but there is war in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, but they are like swords ready to attack.
- Proverbs 26:25When he talks charmingly, do not trust him because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.
- Ezekiel 33:31Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they don’t do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits.
- Matthew 26:49Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
- John 12:6(Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.)
- 2 Corinthians 6:6⌞People can see⌟ our purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit’s presence ⌞in our lives⌟, our sincere love,
- 2 Corinthians 8:8I’m not commanding you, but I’m testing how genuine your love is by pointing out the dedication of others.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3When we encouraged you, we didn’t use unethical schemes, corrupt practices, or deception.
- 1 Timothy 1:5My goal in giving you this order is for love to flow from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith.
- James 2:15Suppose a believer, whether a man or a woman, needs clothes or food
- 1 Peter 1:22Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other.
- 1 Peter 4:8Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins.
- 1 John 3:18Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words.
- Psalms 34:14Turn away from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it!
- Psalms 36:4He invents trouble while lying on his bed and chooses to go the wrong direction. 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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