1 John 4:21

1 John 4:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
• New International Version (NIV)And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Context of 1 John 4:21

19We love because he loved us first. 20If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.

1 John 4:21 word by word

καὶ ταύτην τὴν ἐντολὴν ἔχομεν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν θεὸν ἀγαπᾷ καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• commandmentὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• have weἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• he who lovethἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80

Cross-references for 1 John 4:21

• 1 John 4:11Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.
• 1 John 3:11For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another,
• Leviticus 19:18You must not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people, but you must love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
• Matthew 22:37Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
• Mark 12:29Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
• Luke 10:37The expert in religious law said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” So Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
• John 13:34“I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
• John 15:12My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you.
• Romans 12:9Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.
• Romans 13:9For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:9Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
• 1 Peter 3:8Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Commentaries on 1 John 4:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21This commandment have we - We should love one another, and love our neighbor as ourselves. The love of God and the love of man can never be separated; he who loves God will love his brother; he who loves his brother gives this proof that he loves God, because he loves with a measure of that love which, in its infinitude, dwells in God.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And this commandment have we from him - That is, the command to love a brother is as obligatory as that to love God. If one is obeyed, the other ought to be also; if a man feels that one is binding on him, he should feel that the other is also; and he can never have evidence that he is a true Christian, unless he manifests love to his brethren as well as love to God. See the notes at James 2:10. That he who loveth God love his brother also - See the notes…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of universal judgment…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-21John explains where a Christian’s love comes from and how it is shown in daily life.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Besides the argument (1Jo 4:20) from the common feeling of men, he here adds a stronger one from God's express commandment (Mt 22:39). He who loves, will do what the object of his love wishes. he who loveth God--he who wishes to be regarded by God as loving Him.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 4:21

• Commandments
• Love
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Benevolence
• Fear
• Love
• Perfect
• Also
• John, the Epistles of

Commentaries on 1 John 4

• 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