Romans 12:8 (DBY)

Passage

or he that exhorts, in exhortation; he that gives, in simplicity; he that leads, with diligence; he that shews mercy, with cheerfulness.

Nearby Context

Romans 12:6 But having different gifts, according to the grace which has been given to us, whether [it be] prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith;

Romans 12:7 or service, [let us occupy ourselves] in service; or he that teaches, in teaching;

Romans 12:8 or he that exhorts, in exhortation; he that gives, in simplicity; he that leads, with diligence; he that shews mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:9 Let love be unfeigned; abhorring evil; cleaving to good:

Romans 12:10 as to brotherly love, kindly affectioned towards one another: as to honour, each taking the lead in paying it to the other:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mercy", "exhorts", "exhortation", "gives", "simplicity", "leads", "diligence", and "shews". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mercy" and "exhorts", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "or service let us occupy ourselves in..." into verse 9's "Let love be unfeigned abhorring evil cleaving...", so "mercy" and "exhorts" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "mercy" and "exhorts" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.