Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Love And Hate?
11 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Love And Hate in the Bible
Discover 15 powerful Bible verses about love and hate. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential love & relationships topic.
Top 10 Verses About Love And Hate
- 1Leviticus 19:17
“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. and: or, that thou bear not sin for him”
KJV - 2Psalms 97:10
“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.”
KJV - 3Proverbs 8:13
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
KJV - 4Matthew 5:43
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.”
KJV - 5Matthew 5:44
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
KJV - 6
- 7John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
KJV - 8
- 9
- 10John 15:16
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Love And Hate? (3 Verses)
“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. and: or, that thou bear not sin for him”
“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.”
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Love And Hate? (8 Verses)
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.”
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Love And Hate
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about love and hate. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about love and hate and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about love and hate is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on love and hate needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about love and hate with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about love and hate, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Love And Hate?
You have studied 11 verses about love and hate. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.