Lexicon Hub
Theological Concept Study

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).

6 Word StudiesTheology
Side-by-Side Comparison

Definition Comparison

Strong'sWordLanguageDefinitionOccurrences
G25ἀγαπάωagapáōGreek

(be-)love(-ed). - to love (in a social or moral sense)

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G26ἀγάπηagápēGreek

(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love. - love, i.e. affection or benevolence - specially (plural) a love-feast

106
G5368φιλέωphiléōGreek

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)

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H2617חֵסֵדchêçêdHebrew

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
H157אָהַבʼâhabHebrew

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
H160אַהֲבָהʼahăbâhHebrew

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

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