Bible Strands
John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples, explicitly connecting this instruction to the joy he mentioned in John 15:11 and the sacrificial love he will detail in John 15:13.
The words — ἐντολὴ (entolē) means “commandment,” and ἀγαπᾶτε (agapate) translates as “you may love,” structuring the verse as a direct divine mandate rather than a suggestion.
The thread — The same directive appears in John 13:34 as a new command, is repeated in 1 John 4:21 as a requirement for those who love God, and is echoed in 1 Peter 4:8 as a priority for believers.
Why it lands — The text states that mutual love among the group must be measured against Jesus’ own standard, requiring readers to adopt a specific, observable practice rather than an internal feeling.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Cross-references
- 1 John 4:21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
- 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- 1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
- 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.