1 Peter 4:8
New International Version
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

New Living Translation
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

English Standard Version
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Berean Standard Bible
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Berean Literal Bible
above all things, having fervent love among yourselves, because love covers over a multitude of sins,

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

New King James Version
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

New American Standard Bible
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

NASB 1995
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

NASB 1977
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Legacy Standard Bible
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS.

Amplified Bible
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].

Christian Standard Bible
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.

American Standard Version
above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And before everything, have a severe love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Contemporary English Version
Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins.

English Revised Version
above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins.

Good News Translation
Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.

International Standard Version
Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Literal Standard Version
Before all things, having earnest love among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of sins;

Majority Standard Bible
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

New American Bible
Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.

NET Bible
Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.

New Revised Standard Version
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.

New Heart English Bible
Above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Webster's Bible Translation
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity will cover a multitude of sins.

Weymouth New Testament
Above all continue to love one another fervently, for love throws a veil over a multitude of faults.

World English Bible
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Young's Literal Translation
and, before all things, to one another having the earnest love, because the love shall cover a multitude of sins;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Living for God's Glory
7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. 8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.…

Cross References
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

Proverbs 17:9
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

James 5:20
consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.


Treasury of Scripture

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

above.

Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

James 5:12
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

fervent.

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 Corinthians 13:1-13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal…

1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

for.

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Proverbs 12:16
A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

shall.

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Charity Continue Cover Covereth Covers Earnest Faults Fervent Fervently Forgiveness Hold Love Multitude Sins Throws Unfailing Veil Yourselves
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Charity Continue Cover Covereth Covers Earnest Faults Fervent Fervently Forgiveness Hold Love Multitude Sins Throws Unfailing Veil Yourselves
1 Peter 4
1. He exhorts them to cease from sin and live fore God,
12. and comforts them against persecution.














(8) And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves.--The original is far more vigorous: But before all things keeping intense your charity towards yourselves. St. Peter assumes that the charity is there, but insists on its not being suffered to flag in outward expression. (Comp. the same word in 1Peter 1:22; also in Luke 22:44; Acts 12:5; Acts 26:7.)

Shall cover.--Properly, neither "shall" nor "will," the right reading being present, covereth. The words are usually said to be a quotation from Proverbs 10:12, "Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins;" but they are widely different from the LXX. in that passage, and also vary from the Hebrew; and as precisely the same variation occurs in James 5:20, it seems more probable either that St. Peter had the passage of St. James consciously in his mind, or that the proverb was current and familiar to both writers in the form, "Love covereth a multitude of sins." It is, therefore, unsafe to argue from the exact shade of meaning which the words bear in Proverbs 10:12. To "cover," in Hebrew, often means to "forgive," the idea being that of an offensive object which you bury or hide by putting something else over it; see, for examples, Psalm 32:1; Psalm 85:2; and the place in Proverbs seems to mean that whereas a bitter enemy will rake up every old grudge again and again, one who loves will not allow even himself to see the wrongs done to him by a friend. If this sense be accepted here, it will imply that the Christians in Asia had a good deal to put up with from each other; but even so, the argument seems a little strained: "Keep your charity at its full stretch, because charity forgives, however many the wrongs may be." It far better suits the context to take the proverb in the same sense as in St. James, without any reference to the Old Testament passage. In St. James it is usually taken to mean, "He shall save (the convert's) soul from death, and shall cover (i.e., procure for him the pardon of) a multitude of sins;" but as the true reading there is "his soul," it is more natural to suppose that St. James is holding up, as the reward of converting the sinner, that the person who does so shall save his own soul, and procure for himself the pardon of a multitude of sins. So here it seems obvious that St. Peter is urging charity as something which will be found advantageous when the "end of all things" comes; and the advantage he mentions is, "because charity covereth a multitude of sins:" i.e., the exercise of this grace makes up for a great many other shortcomings in the man. A very good case might be made out for a doctrine of Justification by Love. . . .

Verse 8. - And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; more literally, before all things, having your love towards one another intense. The existence of charity is taken for granted. Christians must love one another; love is the very badge of their profession. The apostle urges his readers to keep that love intense, and that before all things; for charity is the first of Christian graces. (On the word "intense" (ἐκτενής), see note on 1 Peter 1:22.) For charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Read and translate, with the Revised Version, for love covereth a multitude of sins. If St. Peter is directly quoting Proverbs 10:12, he is not using the Septuagint, as he commonly does, but translating from the Hebrew. The Septuagint rendering is quite different, Πάντας δὲ τοὺς μὴ φιλονεικοῦντας καλύπτει φιλία. But it may be that the words had become proverbial. We find them also in James 5:20, "He which converteth the sinner... shall hide a multitude of sins." St. James means that he will obtain God's forgiveness for the converted sinner; but in Proverbs 10:12 the meaning (as is plain from the context) is that love covers the sins of others; does not stir up strifes, as hatred does, but promotes concord by concealing and forgiving sins. This is probably St. Peter's meaning here: "Take care that your charity is intense, for only thus can you forgive as you are bidden to forgive, as you hope to be forgiven." Perhaps he was thinking of the "seventy times seven," to which the Lord had told him that forgiveness was to extend. But his words may well be understood as implying more than this. Love shown in forgiving others will win forgiveness for yourselves: "Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." Love manifested in converting others will cover their sins, and obtain God's forgiveness for them. In the deepest sense, it is only the love of Christ energizing in his atoning work which can cover sin; but true charity, Christian love, flows from that holiest love. "Love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." Therefore in some sense Christian love, flowing from the love of Christ, and bringing the Christian very near to Christ, covers sins; for it keeps the Christian close to the cross, within the immediate sphere of the blessed influences of the atonement, so that he becomes a center of grace, a light kindled from the true Light, a well of living waters fed by the one fountain which is opened for sin and for uncleanness. The mutual love of Christians, their kindly words and deeds, check the work of sin; their prayers, their intercessions, call down the forgiveness of God. Therefore, in the view of the approaching end, charity is before all things precious for our own souls and for the souls of others.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Above
πρὸ (pro)
Preposition
Strong's 4253: A primary preposition; 'fore', i.e. In front of, prior to.

all,
πάντων (pantōn)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

love
ἀγάπην (agapēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.

one another
ἑαυτοὺς (heautous)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

deeply,
ἐκτενῆ (ektenē)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1618: Intent, constant, strenuous, intense; met: earnest, zealous. From ekteino; intent.

because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

love
ἀγάπη (agapē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.

covers over
καλύπτει (kalyptei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2572: To veil, hide, conceal, envelop. Akin to klepto and krupto; to cover up.

a multitude
πλῆθος (plēthos)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4128: A multitude, crowd, great number, assemblage. From pletho; a fulness, i.e. A large number, throng, populace.

of sins.
ἁμαρτιῶν (hamartiōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.


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NT Letters: 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things be earnest (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet)
1 Peter 4:7
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