1 John 4:20

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

19 We love because He first loved us.

If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
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?
WEB
If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
ASV
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, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.
DARBY
If any one say, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
BLB
If anyone should say, “I love God,” and should hate his brother, he is a liar. For the one not loving his brother, whom he has seen, is not able to love God, whom he has not seen.
ÅB
Dersom noen sier: Jeg elsker Gud, og han hater sin bror, da er han en løgner; for den som ikke elsker sin bror, som han har sett, hvordan kan han elske Gud, som han ikke har sett?
OTB
Hvis noen sier: "Jeg elsker Gud," og likevel hater sin bror eller søster, er han en løgner; for den som ikke elsker sin bror eller søster som han har sett, kan ikke elske Gud, som han ikke har sett.
B1930
Dersom nogen sier: Jeg elsker Gud, og han hater sin bror, da er han en løgner; for den som ikke elsker sin bror, som han har sett, hvorledes kan han elske Gud, som han ikke har sett?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 John 3:17

    If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

    Read in context
  • 1 John 2:9

    If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness.

    Read in context
  • 1 John 4:12

    No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.

    Read in context
  • 1 John 2:4

    If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

    Read in context
  • 1 John 2:11

    But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 1:8

    Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

    Read in context
  • 1 John 1:6

    If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

    Read in context