Matthew · Chapter 22 · Love
Matthew 22:39 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
Love is the centre of Scripture's story. Read this one slowly.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"
KJV · King James Version
"And1161 the second1208 is like3664 unto it846 3778, Thou shalt love25 thy4675 neighbour4139 as5613 thyself4572."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses and, the, like, unto, while the WEB renders these as likewise, this, you, shall. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Matthew 22:39 in Matthew 22
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Matthew 22:39 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Matthew 22. Read the full chapter →
- v.37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
- v.38 This is the first and great commandment.
- v.39 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
- v.40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
- v.41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
Book background
About the Book of Matthew
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- Gospel
- Author
- Matthew (Levi), tax collector turned apostle
- Date written
- c. 50–70 AD
- Audience
- Primarily Jewish Christians
- Chapters
- 28
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited King in the line of David, structuring his Gospel around five major teaching blocks — most famously the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). He repeatedly shows how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. The Great Commission (28:18-20) closes the book.
Setting: Written to demonstrate Jesus as Israel's promised Messianic King.
Key themes: kingdom of heaven · fulfillment · discipleship · authority · mission
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Matthew 22:39
Matthew 22:39 contains 12 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
A second likewise is this
ASLIT
- 2
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
YSLYNA
Frequently asked
FAQ about Matthew 22:39
What does Matthew 22:39 say?
Matthew 22:39 reads: "A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" — from the New Testament, Matthew (Gospel). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Matthew 22:39 in?
Matthew 22:39 is in the book of Matthew, traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax collector turned apostle and written around c. 50–70 AD. Matthew is gospel in the New Testament, originally addressed to Primarily Jewish Christians. Best known for the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.
What is Matthew 22:39 about?
Matthew 22:39 is primarily a Bible verse about Love. Within Matthew, Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited King in the line of David, structuring his Gospel around five major teaching blocks — most famously the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Matthew 22:39 in WEB and KJV?
Matthew 22:39 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "And1161 the second1208 is like3664 unto it846 3778, Thou shalt love25 thy4675 neighbour4139 as5613 thyself4572.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Matthew 22:39?
Matthew 22:39 is 12 words in the WEB translation (70 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 4 seconds.
How can I memorise Matthew 22:39?
To memorise Matthew 22:39, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Matthew 22:39 matter in Matthew?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited King in the line of David, structuring his Gospel around five major teaching blocks — most famously the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). He repeatedly shows how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. The Great Commission (28:18-20) closes the book. Matthew 22:39 sits within this larger story — Matthew as a whole emphasises kingdom of heaven, fulfillment, discipleship.
How can I apply Matthew 22:39 today?
Many readers use Matthew 22:39 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Matthew 22:39 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
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Romans 8:28
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
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1 John 4:8
“He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.”
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1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not pr…”
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John 13:34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.”
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1 Corinthians 13:13
“But now faith, hope, and love remain — these three. The greatest of these is love.”
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Romans 5:8
“But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
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Ephesians 4:32
“And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”
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Deuteronomy 6:5
“You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.”
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Ruth 1:16
“Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be…”
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