Bible Strands
Mark 12:31
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus pronounces this commandment immediately after declaring the first, before the scribe responds in the following verse. He addresses the scribe and the gathered crowd in the temple.
The words — ἀγαπήσεις (agapēseis) means "you will love," and πλησίον (plēsion) means "neighbor." The text links these with ὁμοία (homoia), "like," to establish self-comparison as the measuring standard.
The thread — The directive originates in Leviticus 19:18, repeats in Matthew 22:39, and Paul later observes in Romans 13:8 that loving one's neighbor fulfills the law.
Why it lands — The text places this command alongside the love of God, declaring no other commandment greater. It requires readers to evaluate their treatment of others against their own self-regard.
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
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Cross-references
- Romans 13:8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
- Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
- Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
- Luke 10:27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- Matthew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
- Galatians 5:14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- 1 John 4:21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
- 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
- Matthew 19:18 “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,