Romans 13:9

The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Roman congregation in a passage on mutual obligation (13:8), moving from specific prohibitions to the single principle that governs them.

The words — μοιχεύσεις (moicheúseis), "you will commit adultery," is second person singular future indicative paired with the negative οὐ — the exact grammatical form of the Decalogue's prohibitions (Exodus 20:13–15).

The thread — Jesus names "Love your neighbor as yourself" as the second great commandment (Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31), and Paul here identifies it as the summation of the Decalogue's negative commands.

Why it lands — The verse adds no new duty; it re-frames the existing ones so that the reader measures conduct by a positive standard (love) rather than a list of prohibitions.

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

For 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.

Cross-references

Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
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.’”
Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
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.
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,
Romans 7:7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
Leviticus 19:34 You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.