Romans 13:9
What does Romans 13:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 13:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 13:9 means
Paul cites several commandments—against adultery, murder, theft, and coveting—and then declares that any other commandment is summed up in, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does not set aside these commands; it gathers them into their unifying purpose. If you truly seek your neighbor’s good as you would your own, you will not wrong them in body, property, or desire. This presents love as intelligent and moral, not permissive. It directs the heart so that the hands follow in obedience. In this way, love becomes the living principle that animates and harmonizes all God’s commands.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And this, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another's, Do not have desire for what is another's, and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for, `Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false testimony, Thou shalt not covet;' and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: `Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For: 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 comprised in this word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not lust; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Context
Verse 9 supports verse 8’s claim by listing representative commandments and showing how love sums them up. This echoes the law’s own heart and demonstrates that Paul’s gospel does not overthrow moral order but fulfills it. The progression is logical: love is the debt (v.8); the law’s specific commands express what love looks like (v.9); therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law (v.10). This structure leads naturally into the call for alert, holy living in verses 11–14, where love’s ethic is paired with the urgency of the approaching day.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 20:12
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
- Galatians 5:13
For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
- Leviticus 19:18
Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah.
- Mark 12:31
The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
- James 2:8
Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
- Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:
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