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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

Context of 1 John 4:21

19We love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

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, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
• 1 John 3:11For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
• Leviticus 19:18“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
• Matthew 22:37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
• Mark 12:29“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
• Luke 10:37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
• John 13:34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
• John 15:12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
• Romans 12:9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
• Romans 13:9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:9Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
• 1 Peter 3:8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over 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