This article features twelve powerful Bible verses about hate, highlighting the destructive nature of hate and the importance of love and forgiveness.
As a Christian theologian, I believe that hate is not a characteristic of God and should not be a characteristic of his followers.
The Bible encourages us to love our neighbors, even those who may be difficult to love, and warns against holding grudges and seeking revenge.
Ultimately, love and forgiveness are the keys to overcoming hate and living in harmony with one another.
Bible verses about hate
Here are twelve powerful Bible verses about hate:
1. “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” – 1 John 2:9
2. “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” – 1 John 3:15
3. “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.” – Matthew 5:44
4. “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” – Proverbs 10:12
5. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” – 1 John 4:20
6. “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” – Romans 12:9
7. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” – Proverbs 8:13
8. “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” – Proverbs 6:16-19
9. “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” – Leviticus 19:17
10. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
11. “He that hateth me hateth my Father also.” – John 15:23
12. “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” – Matthew 5:22
What does the Bible say about hate?
The Bible teaches that hate is a destructive force that can lead to harm and division.
It is not a characteristic of God, who is love, and therefore should not be a characteristic of his followers.
Instead, the Bible encourages us to love our neighbors as ourselves, even those who may be difficult to love.
It also warns against holding grudges and seeking revenge, as these actions can lead to further harm and bitterness.
Ultimately, the Bible teaches that love and forgiveness are the keys to overcoming hate and living in harmony with one another.
What Bible chapters should you read if you want to learn more about hate?
It is important to note that the Bible teaches love and forgiveness rather than hate. The Bible encourages us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to forgive those who have wronged us, and to treat others with kindness and compassion. While there may be instances of hate or anger in certain Bible stories, these are often used to illustrate the consequences of such negative emotions and the importance of choosing love and forgiveness instead.
Ideas and concepts related to hate that are also taught or mentioned in the Bible.
1. Anger: The Bible warns against anger, which can lead to hate. In Ephesians 4:26-27, it says, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
2. Forgiveness: The Bible teaches forgiveness as a way to combat hate. In Matthew 6:14-15, it says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
3. Love: The Bible emphasizes the importance of love, which is the opposite of hate. In 1 John 4:20-21, it says, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
4. Pride: The Bible warns against pride, which can lead to hate. In Proverbs 16:18, it says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
5. Jealousy: The Bible warns against jealousy, which can lead to hate. In James 3:14-16, it says, “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
