New International Version
Romans 12:9
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is 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.
- 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.
- 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 it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving 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 said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- Psalms 55:21His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
- Proverbs 26:25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
- Ezekiel 33:31My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
- Matthew 26:49Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
- John 12:6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
- 2 Corinthians 8:8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
- 1 Timothy 1:5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
- James 2:15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
- 1 Peter 1:22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
- 1 Peter 4:8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- 1 John 3:18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
- Psalms 34:14Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
- Psalms 36:4Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.
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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