Love in Scripture.
Discover the profound nuances of Love in Scripture. Explore the differences between Agape (divine love), Phileo (brotherly love), and the Hebrew Hesed (steadfast loyalty).
Greek Terms
(be-)love(-ed). - to love (in a social or moral sense)
(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love. - love, i.e. affection or benevolence - specially (plural) a love-feast
kiss, love. - to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling - while ἀγαπάω is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as θέλω and βούλομαι, or as θυμός and νοῦς respectively - the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head) - specially, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness)
Hebrew Terms
favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing. - kindness - by implication (towards God) piety - rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty 1) goodness, kindness, faithfulness 2) a reproach, shame
or אָהֵב ʼâhêb (aw-habe')
feminine of אַהַב and meaning the same love. - {affection (in a good or a bad sense)} 1) love 1a) human love for human object 1a1) of man toward man 1a2) of man toward himself 1a3) between man and woman 1a4) sexual desire 2) God's love to His people
Definition Comparison
| Strong's | Word | Language | Definition | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G25 | ἀγαπάωagapáō | Greek | (be-)love(-ed). - to love (in a social or moral sense) | 109 |
| G26 | ἀγάπηagápē | Greek | (feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love. - love, i.e. affection or benevolence - specially (plural) a love-feast | 106 |
| G5368 | φιλέωphiléō | Greek | kiss, love. - to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling - while ἀγαπάω is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as θέλω and βούλομαι, or as θυμός and νοῦς respectively - the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head) - specially, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness) | 21 |
| H2617 | חֵסֵדchêçêd | Hebrew | favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing. - kindness - by implication (towards God) piety - rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty 1) goodness, kindness, faithfulness 2) a reproach, shame | 241 |
| H157 | אָהַבʼâhab | Hebrew | or אָהֵב ʼâhêb (aw-habe') ; a primitive root (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. - to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like | 195 |
| H160 | אַהֲבָהʼahăbâh | Hebrew | feminine of אַהַב and meaning the same love. - {affection (in a good or a bad sense)} 1) love 1a) human love for human object 1a1) of man toward man 1a2) of man toward himself 1a3) between man and woman 1a4) sexual desire 2) God's love to His people | 37 |
Related Concepts
Peace
Biblical peace is more than the absence of conflict. Journey through the Hebrew 'Shalom' (completeness) and the Greek 'Eirene' (tranquility).
Grace
Understand the 'unmerited favor' of God through the lens of Hebrew 'Chen' and Greek 'Charis'. See how these concepts transformed the early church.
Mercy
Explore the 'womb-like' compassion of the Hebrew 'Racham' and the active relief of the Greek 'Eleos'.
Faith
Faith is not just belief, it's firm reliability. Study the 'rock-solid' Hebrew Emunah and the persuasive Greek Pistis.