Romans 13:9 kjv
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Romans 13:9 nkjv
For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Romans 13:9 niv
The 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."
Romans 13:9 esv
For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Romans 13:9 nlt
For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These ? and other such commandments ? are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Romans 13 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 13:10 | Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. | Echoes the central theme |
| Lev 19:18 | You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the people of your kindred, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. | Direct Old Testament command |
| Matt 22:39 | And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. | Jesus quotes the command |
| Gal 5:14 | For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” | Direct New Testament parallel |
| 1 Tim 1:5 | The aim of our charge is love that springs from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. | Love as the ultimate aim |
| 1 Cor 13:4-7 | Love is patient, love is kind... It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. | Qualities of fulfilling love |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Love's covering nature |
| John 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also, love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | Jesus' command and evidence |
| Col 3:14 | And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. | Love as unifying bond |
| Rom 8:4 | so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. | Fulfillment through the Spirit |
| Luke 10:25-37 | The Good Samaritan parable explains who our neighbor is and the nature of loving them. | Defines neighbor and action |
| Rom 12:9-10 | Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. | Practical application of love |
| Rom 13:1-7 | Context on submission to governing authorities, which flows from love. | Authority and love |
| Rom 2:14-15 | The Gentiles doing what the law requires, showing the work of the law written on their hearts. | Law fulfilled internally |
| 1 John 4:7-8 | Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. | Love as divine nature |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | Greatest commandment (love God) |
| Matt 22:40 | Now the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. | The two great commandments |
| 1 John 2:3-5 | And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. | Keeping commands demonstrates love |
| Matt 5:17 | “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. | Jesus' fulfillment of the Law |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. | Humility and considering others |
Romans 13 verses
Romans 13 9 Meaning
The verse encapsulates the essence of love's fulfilling nature, asserting that love is the ultimate summation of the Law. Every commandment, when truly practiced, is inherently an expression of love for one's neighbor. Therefore, by fulfilling the commandment to love, all other commands are satisfied.
Romans 13 9 Context
This verse is found within Romans chapter 13, which broadly addresses the believer's relationship with governing authorities. Paul instructs believers to submit to those in authority because they are established by God for the maintenance of order and justice. The immediate context leading up to verse 9 is a discussion about not committing specific sins like adultery, murder, theft, coveting. Paul then presents love for one's neighbor as the ultimate resolution and fulfillment of all these prohibitions, placing it as the foundational principle that undergirds obedience to God's commands. The historical context is the early church facing various social and political pressures, where understanding one's duty and the essence of Christian living was crucial.
Romans 13 9 Word Analysis
- ἀνακεφαλαίωσις (anakephalaiōsis): "summing up," "collection into one," "completing." In the context of the law, it signifies not just a summary but a vital essence or completion, suggesting love embodies the full purpose and intent of the Law.
- πᾶς (pas): "all," "every." Emphasizes the totality of the Law.
- νόμος (nomos): "law." Refers primarily to the Mosaic Law, but by extension, all divine precepts.
- ἔν (hen): "in." Signifies that love is the principle within which all other commands are met.
- τὸ (to): The definite article, specifying "love" as a particular concept or quality.
- ἀγάπη (agape): The highest form of love, a self-sacrificing, unconditional love, often associated with God's love for humanity and the love Christians are called to have for one another.
- τὸ (to): The definite article again, referring to "the fulfillment."
- πλήρωμα (plērōma): "fullness," "completion," "that which fills up." It conveys that love is not merely a part of the law but its ultimate end and embodiment, satisfying its deepest requirements.
Words Group Analysis
- "Love your neighbor as yourself" (ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν - agapēsēs ton plēsion sou hōs seauton): This is a direct quote from Leviticus 19:18, highlighting its central importance. Paul here connects this commandment directly to the "summing up" of the law, showing that embodying this kind of selfless love inherently upholds all the other commandments. It implies that any action truly motivated by neighborly love will by necessity avoid wronging that neighbor in any way.
Romans 13 9 Bonus Section
The concept of pleroma (fulness/completion) is significant. In New Testament usage, it can refer to Christ's fullness or the completeness of the church. Here, it signifies that love is the comprehensive substance and goal of God's commands. It signifies not an elimination of the Law, but its highest expression and attainment, aligning with Jesus' teaching on fulfilling the Law and the Prophets with the two great commandments of love (Matt 22:40). This perspective highlights the active, relational nature of Christian ethics, moving beyond a legalistic adherence to a life transformed by God's love.
Romans 13 9 Commentary
Paul unequivocally states that love is the entirety and perfection of the Law. He asserts that every command is intrinsically an expression of love towards our fellow man. Therefore, by truly embracing and practicing love, one inherently fulfills the whole Law. This doesn't abolish the Law but perfects its intent. It's about internalizing the spirit of the Law rather than merely observing external regulations. Love is the guiding principle that naturally leads to righteous action, covering and completing all other legal obligations.
- Practical application: When faced with a decision, consider if it truly reflects selfless love for others.
- If a desire to lie is present, recognize that true love requires honesty, thus fulfilling the commandment against falsehood.
- If anger or a desire for revenge arises, remember that love compels forgiveness and patience, thus satisfying commands against hatred and vengeance.