Devine Scripture

1 John 4:21

What does 1 John 4:21 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 4:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 4:21 means

John concludes with a clear command received from the Lord: the one who loves God must also love his brother. This is not a secondary counsel but a binding directive woven into the fabric of true worship. Love for God and love for brother stand or fall together, because both spring from God’s own love revealed in the sending of His Son. Obedience here preserves unity, displays the gospel’s power, and silences empty claims. The command draws together the chapter’s themes: truth about Jesus, assurance by the Spirit, and the practice of love. To love God truly is to love those He has made His own.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And this is the word which we have from him, that he who has love for God is to have the same love for his brother.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and this <FI>is<Fi> the command we have from Him, that he who is loving God, may also love his brother.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And this commandment we have from God, that he who loveth God love also his brother.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And this commandment have we from him, That he that lovesGod love also his brother.

Context

This closing verse distills the argument of verses 7–20 into a single imperative that conforms to the revelation of God’s love in Christ. It brings the chapter to a fitting end, tying doctrinal confession and moral practice together. From here, the letter will continue in chapter 5 by connecting faith in Jesus with new birth, love, and victory over the world, carrying forward the themes of truth and love.

v.20If 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, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.

v.21This passage

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 13:9

    For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

  • John 13:34

    A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

  • John 15:12

    This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.

  • Romans 12:9

    Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

  • Matthew 22:37

    And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

  • 1 John 3:14

    We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.

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