1 John 4:20
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
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?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
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
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Read in context1 John 2:9
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
Read in context1 John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Read in context1 John 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Read in context1 John 2:11
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Read in context1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Read in context1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
Read in context