"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."
— Romans 12:9 (NIV)
Romans 12:9 is the "love must be sincere" verse, the opening line of Paul's list of what real love looks like in daily life. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in Romans 12, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about loving others, Bible verses about goodness, and Love and honesty.
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The verse
The King James reads: "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
"Love" is agapē (G26). "Sincere" ("without dissimulation") is anypokritos (G505), literally "without hypocrisy," not playing a part. "Hate" ("abhor") is apostygeō (G655), a strong word for turning away in disgust. "Evil" is ponēros (G4190). "Cling" ("cleave") is kollaō (G2853), to glue or join closely, and "good" is agathos (G18).
Where it sits in Romans 12
Romans 12 opens with "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) and "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). After a section on spiritual gifts, verse 9 starts a run of short commands about love.
The next verses fill it in: "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10), "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12), and "Bless those who persecute you" (Romans 12:14).
What the verse is saying
Paul's first word about love is that it must be real. Love that is only for show, polite on the outside while cold or self-serving underneath, is the hypocrisy he rules out.
He then pairs love with a clear moral line: hate evil, hold tight to good. Sincere love does not call wrong things right to keep the peace. John says the same: "let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
Questions people ask
What does Romans 12:9 say?
In the NIV it says, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." The KJV says, "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
What does "let love be without hypocrisy" mean?
The Greek word means "un-hypocritical," like an actor without a mask. Your love should be what it looks like: honest care for the other person, not a performance to look good or get something.
What does "dissimulation" mean in Romans 12:9 KJV?
"Dissimulation" is an older English word for pretending or hiding your real feelings. "Let love be without dissimulation" means let love be genuine, with nothing faked.
Why does Paul put "hate what is evil" next to love?
Because real love wants what is truly good for people. That means refusing to approve of what harms them. Love and a clear sense of right and wrong belong together.
What verses go with Romans 12:9?
Romans 12:10 (be devoted to one another), 1 John 3:18 (love with actions and in truth), and 1 Corinthians 13:4 (love is patient, love is kind) are close companions.
