Romans 13:9

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.

Romans 13:9 (KJV)

Context

Paul writes to believers in Rome, urging them to live righteously in daily conduct. In this verse he draws from the second table of the Ten Commandments, the part of the Law that governs how people treat one another. The list is representative, not exhaustive, and its order differs from Exodus 20, a common feature in ancient Jewish citation that does not change the commandments’ meaning.

Meaning

Paul names five commandments that protect the neighbor: no adultery, no killing, no stealing, no false witness, and no coveting. Each one guards a different area of human relationship. Adultery violates the marriage bond; killing attacks life itself; stealing takes what belongs to another; false witness harms a person through dishonest speech; coveting reveals a heart that is not content with what God has given. Together they show that love is not a vague feeling but a concrete way of treating others.

Then Paul makes a striking claim: every other commandment about how we treat people is “briefly comprehended” in the saying, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” The Greek word behind “comprehended” means to sum up or bring together. Love for the neighbor is the principle that gathers the whole moral law into one command. This does not replace the Law; it fulfills its intent.

Biblical connections

Paul is quoting Leviticus 19:18, where God commands His people to love their neighbor as themselves. In Romans 13:10 Paul adds that love works no ill to a neighbor, so love is the fulfilling of the Law. The command to love is not a new law but the heart of what God has always required.

Application

This verse calls believers to examine their relationships. It is not enough to avoid the outward sins Paul lists; love also addresses the inner desires of the heart, such as coveting. When we genuinely love our neighbor, we will not harm them in action, word, or thought. Instead, we will actively seek their good, treating them with faithfulness, honesty, respect, and contentment.

Reflection

Romans 13:9 reminds us that the Christian life is not a list of rules to keep but a love to live. The command to love our neighbor as ourselves is the standard by which all our conduct toward others is measured. As we grow in love, we fulfill the deepest intention of God’s commandments.