1 John 4 20

1 John 4:20 kjv

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1 John 4:20 nkjv

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

1 John 4:20 niv

Whoever 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.

1 John 4:20 esv

If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

1 John 4:20 nlt

If someone says, "I love God," but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

1 John 4 verses

1 John 4 20 Meaning

This verse profoundly asserts that a verbal profession of love for God is utterly invalidated by animosity towards a fellow believer. It establishes a non-negotiable link between horizontal human relationships and vertical communion with God, stating that true love for the unseen God is impossible for anyone who harbors hatred for a brother or sister whom they can see and interact with directly. Such a claim, in the presence of hatred, exposes one as a deceiver.

1 John 4 20 Context

First John is a letter written to a community of believers struggling with false teachings that undermined the truth of Christ’s incarnation and its implications for ethical living. John, the apostle, provides three "tests" of authentic faith and fellowship with God: righteousness, love for fellow believers, and sound doctrine regarding Christ. Chapters 4 begins with an imperative to "test the spirits" (v. 1), leading to the assertion that anyone who does not confess Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is not from God (v. 2-3). Following this, John deeply explores the nature of love, asserting that "God is love" (v. 8, 16) and that His love was supremely demonstrated in sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice (v. 9-10). From this theological foundation, John argues that divine love in believers must naturally flow outwards into love for one another (v. 7, 11-12). Verses 13-18 emphasize the assurance of salvation and God's indwelling Spirit as fear is cast out by perfect love. Against this rich backdrop, 1 John 4:20 stands as a climactic logical and ethical assertion, directly challenging those who might claim an abstract or purely intellectual love for God while neglecting tangible, practical love for the community. It critiques a Gnostic-like tendency to separate spiritual experience from ethical conduct, making the point that one's relationship with the unseen God is visibly demonstrated in one's treatment of the seen neighbor.

1 John 4 20 Word analysis

• If someone says (Ἐάν τις εἴπῃ, Ean tis eipē): This sets up a hypothetical, yet commonly encountered, declaration. It highlights a verbal claim that is about to be directly challenged by observable behavior. The grammatical structure points to a real, present possibility.
• 'I love God' (Ἀγαπῶ τὸν θεόν, Agapō ton Theon): Agapao here signifies a profound, sacrificial, and unconditional love. The claim is a profession of ultimate devotion and affection for the divine.
• and hates (καὶ μισῇ, kai misē): Miseo means to have an intense dislike, animosity, or even loathing. This word provides the stark contrast to agapao, exposing a direct contradiction. It's not mere indifference, but active antagonism.
• his brother (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, ton adelphon autou): In 1 John, "brother" predominantly refers to fellow Christians, members of the same spiritual family (cf. 1 Jn 3:10, 14, 16; 4:21). The relationship is immediate and tangible.
• he is a liar (ψεύστης ἐστίν, pseustēs estin): Pseustes is a strong accusation, not just implying a single falsehood but a person whose character is defined by deceit. This declaration means their entire spiritual profession is false, for the truth is not in them regarding this matter.
• for he who does not love (ὁ γὰρ μὴ ἀγαπῶν, ho gar mē agapōn): "For" (gar) introduces the logical reason and justification for the preceding assertion. This phrase repeats the verb for "love," emphasizing the fundamental nature of this virtue. The negation (mē) with the present participle indicates a continuing state of not loving.
• his brother whom he has seen (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ὃν ἑώρακεν, ton adelphon autou hon heōraken): Heōraken is the perfect tense of horao, "to see," implying a complete or enduring perception. This underscores the tangible, experiential, and directly observable nature of the "brother." One has direct knowledge of this person through interaction.
• cannot love God (τὸν θεὸν οὐ δύναται ἀγαπᾶν, ton Theon ou dynatai agapan): Ou dynatai is an absolute impossibility ("is not able," "cannot possibly"). It’s not a matter of difficulty but of fundamental impossibility. If the immediate, visible relationship is faulty, the spiritual, unseen one cannot be genuine.
• whom he has not seen (ὃν οὐχ ἑώρακεν, hon ouch heōraken): This contrasts with the seen brother. God, in His essence, is invisible, known through faith and His Spirit. The argument implies a logical and experiential pathway: if love for the visible falls short, love for the invisible cannot be real.

Words-group Analysis

• "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother": This highlights the hypocrisy John confronts—a severe disconnect between a verbal, abstract spiritual claim and concrete, hostile actions toward another person. It underscores the theme of words contradicting deeds, which is a major concern throughout 1 John.
• "he is a liar": This concise and potent declaration serves as a definitive judgment on the integrity of such a person's faith. It goes beyond a simple mistake, revealing a deep spiritual falsity and a denial of truth.
• "for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen": This core logical argument provides the basis for John's strong indictment. It is a brilliant rhetorical device that moves from the empirical to the spiritual. John posits that love for God is tested and validated, or invalidated, by the tangible expression of love for one's visible neighbor. If one fails the practical and accessible test (loving a seen brother), then the higher, unseen love is a demonstrable impossibility. This asserts that genuine spirituality is inherently relational and finds its truest expression in real-world actions of love.

1 John 4 20 Bonus section

• The argument from "seen" versus "unseen" is a crucial aspect. It counters any form of spirituality that seeks to be purely abstract, intellectual, or mystical without affecting concrete, interpersonal conduct. John implies that genuine spiritual experience is evidenced in observable life.
• This verse indirectly clarifies the nature of God's love: it is not merely an emotion, but a powerful, active force that compels the believer towards practical kindness, forgiveness, and service, particularly within the family of God.
• The strong term "liar" underscores the serious implications of a divided heart. It means that the person is fundamentally misrepresenting reality about their spiritual state, thereby calling their relationship with God into question.
• John's choice of "agape" love emphasizes its divine origin and nature, distinct from fleeting emotions. Therefore, a lack of this divine love in visible relationships proves a detachment from its ultimate source.

1 John 4 20 Commentary

First John 4:20 serves as a powerful acid test for spiritual authenticity. It utterly dismisses any claim of loving God that is contradicted by a demonstrable lack of love, or active hatred, towards a fellow human being, particularly a fellow believer. John's logic is devastatingly simple and direct: if one cannot love what is visible, tangible, and frequently interacts with—their brother—how can they claim to genuinely love God, who is invisible? The practical reality of human relationships is the arena where divine love proves its authenticity. A declaration of loving God made by one who harbors hatred is, to John, not merely inconsistent but a lie, signaling that such an individual has not truly come to know the God who is love. This verse roots theological truth in practical ethics, insisting that true piety must manifest in tangible, Christ-like affection and care for others within the community of faith. It urges believers towards a coherent faith where profession aligns with practice, and love for God flows seamlessly into love for humankind.