John 15 · Verse 12

John 15:12

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:12, King James Version

John 15:12 in other translations

BSBThis is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
WEB“This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.
ASVThis is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.
YLT‘This is my command, that ye love one another, according as I did love you;
DARBYThis is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.
BBEThis is the law I give you: Have love one for another, even as I have love for you.
WebsterThis is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

What does John 15:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 15:12-16
12-16. That ye love one another, &c.--(See on Joh 13:34, 35).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. This is my commandment. The peculiar law of Christianity, called hence the new commandment. Jn 13:34.

As I have loved you. That is, with the same tender affection, willing to endure trials, to practise self-denials, and, if need be, to lay down your lives for each other, 1Jn 3:16.

(m) "This is my commandment" Jn 13:24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 That ye love one another - See on Joh 13:34 (note). So deeply was thus commandment engraved on the heart of this evangelist that St. Jerome says, lib. iii. c. 6, Com. ad Galat., that in his extreme old age, when he used to be carried to the public assemblies of the believers, his constant saying was, Little children, love one another. His disciples, wearied at last with the constant repetition of the same words, asked him, Why he constantly said the same thing? "Because (said he) it is the commandment of the Lord, and the observation of it alone is sufficient." Quia praeceptum Domini est, et, si solum fiat, sufficit.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 15:9-17

Those whom God loves as a Father, may despise the hatred of all the world. As the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were unworthy. All that love the Saviour should continue in their love to him, and take all occasions to show it. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment, but the joy of those who abide in Christ's love is a continual feast. They are to show their love to him…

Read the full comment on John 15:9-17 →

John 15:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

αὕτηhautēThisG3778
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
ἡhē<the>G3588
ἐντολὴentolēcommandmentG1785
ἡhē<the>G3588
ἐμὴemēof MineG1473
ἵναinathatG2443
ἀγαπᾶτεagapateyou may loveG25
ἀλλήλουςallēlousone anotherG240
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
ἠγάπησαēgapēsaI lovedG25
ὑμᾶς.humasyou.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 15:12

  • 1 John 4:21

    And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

  • 1 Peter 4:8

    And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

  • John 13:34

    A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

  • Ephesians 5:2

    And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

  • Romans 12:10

    Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

  • 1 John 3:23

    And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:12

    And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:9

    But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

  • 1 John 3:11-18

    For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. …

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3

    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
13:34; Ro 12:10; Eph 5:2; 1Th 3:12; 4:9; 2Th 1:3; 1Pe 1:22; 3:8; 4:8
1Jo 2:7-10; 3:11-18,23; 4:21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 15:11

    These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

  • John 15:12

    This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

  • John 15:13

    Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Read all of John 15

John 15:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Este es mi mandamiento: Que os améis los unos á los otros, como yo os he amado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est ici mon commandement: Que vous vous aimiez les uns les autres, comme je vous ai aimés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dies ist mein Gebot, daß ihr einander liebet, gleichwie ich euch geliebt habe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hoc est præceptum meum, ut diligatis invicem, sicut dilexi vos.