Romans 12:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Real love is honest love, and it knows the difference between what to hate and what to hold.
The Context of Romans 12:9
Paul is in the middle of a rapid string of instructions for life together in the body of Christ (verses 9 through 21). This short line opens that section and sets the tone for all that follows: everything begins with love that is genuine.
What Does Romans 12:9 Mean?
The old word 'dissimulation' means pretending, wearing a mask. Paul's term beneath it is literally 'without hypocrisy,' borrowed from the stage, where an actor hid his real face behind a painted one. So the first thing he asks is that our love be the real face, not a performance. Then he gives love two muscles: 'abhor that which is evil,' a strong word for recoiling from harm, and 'cleave to that which is good,' a word for being glued fast to it. Honest love is not soft about everything; it pulls away from what wounds and grips what heals.
This is the love we have seen in Jesus, who never flattered and never pretended, yet welcomed sinners and wept at a grave. He hated what destroyed people and held fast to them at the same time. When His love fills us, ours can lose its mask too, free to be tender and clear-eyed at once, hating the harm while clinging to the good in those around us.
Romans 12:9 in the Original Language
anypokritos (ἀνυπόκριτος), 'without dissimulation' -- unhypocritical, without the actor mask, sincere all the way through.
How to Apply Romans 12:9 Today
This verse gently asks whether our love is the real face or a managed one. We can let it be honest, dropping the performance, while still holding firm convictions about what harms and what helps. To love sincerely, recoiling from evil and clinging to good, is to love the way Christ loves us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 12:9
What does Romans 12:9 mean?
Real love is honest love, and it knows the difference between what to hate and what to hold.
What is the context of Romans 12:9?
Paul is in the middle of a rapid string of instructions for life together in the body of Christ (verses 9 through 21). This short line opens that section and sets the tone for all that follows: everything begins with love that is genuine.
How can I apply Romans 12:9 today?
This verse gently asks whether our love is the real face or a managed one. We can let it be honest, dropping the performance, while still holding firm convictions about what harms and what helps. To love sincerely, recoiling from evil and clinging to good, is to love the way Christ loves us.