Proverbs 10:12 — Word Study
WLCשִׂ֭נְאָה תְּעוֹרֵ֣ר מְדָנִ֑ים וְעַ֥ל כָּל־ פְּ֝שָׁעִ֗ים תְּכַסֶּ֥ה אַהֲבָֽה׃
BSA◂Hatredsinʼâh [intense dislike, animosity] stirs upʻûwr▸ [rousing, awakening] dissensionmᵉdân [strife, contention, quarrels] but loveʼahăbâh [unconditional affection, agape] coverskâçâh▸ [to hide, forgive] allkôl [every, everything] transgressionspeshaʻ [rebellion, sin, wrongdoing]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִׂ֭נְאָה | hatred | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| תְּעוֹרֵ֣ר | it stirs up | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| מְדָנִ֑ים | contentions | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וְעַ֥ל | and over | Conjunction, preposition |
| כָּל־ | all | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| פְּ֝שָׁעִ֗ים | transgressions | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| תְּכַסֶּ֥ה | it covers | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| אַהֲבָֽה׃ | love | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions. |
| KJV | Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. |
| ASV | Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions. |
| YLT | Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth. |
| WEB | Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs. |
| BBE | Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are covered up by love. |
Where they part company is שִׂנְאָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with two main clauses connected by a conjunction, emphasizing the contrast between hatred and love.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectשִׂנְאָה
verbעוּר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 10:12
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom on Relationshipsgenerated
Proverbs 10:12 discusses the contrasting effects of hatred and love on human interactions. Hatred is depicted as a force that incites conflict, while love is shown as a healing force that can cover transgressions. This wisdom is part of a broader discourse in Proverbs that emphasizes the importance of love and reconciliation in relationships, relevant for both personal and communal harmony.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 15:18 | A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute. |
| 2 | Proverbs 16:27 | A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. |
| 3 | Proverbs 28:25 | A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. |
| 4 | Proverbs 29:22 | An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression. |
| 5 | James 4:1 | What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אַהֲבָה, 'a.ha.Vahgenerated
The Hebrew word אַהֲבָה ('ahabah) signifies love or affection, encompassing various forms of love, including the unconditional love of God and the love shared between individuals. This feminine noun highlights the depth of love that is capable of covering all transgressions, suggesting a powerful, forgiving nature.
In this verse, love acts as a protective covering over wrongdoings, indicating that true love seeks to forgive and heal rather than expose faults. The parsing indicates that it is a noun, emphasizing the state of being rather than an action, reinforcing the idea of love as a sustaining force in relationships.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains two main clauses: the first describes the action of hatred stirring up conflict, and the second contrasts this with love covering transgressions. The structure emphasizes the juxtaposition of these two powerful emotions.
The finite verbs תְּעוֹרֵ֣ר (it stirs up) and תְּכַסֶּ֥ה (it covers) serve as the action points, with their respective subjects, שִׂנְאָה and אַהֲבָה, highlighting the contrast between the two.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, שִׂנְאָה is rendered as μῖσος, which carries a similar meaning of hatred. This choice reflects a direct translation of the emotional state described in the Hebrew.
The Greek word καλύπτει for תְּכַסֶּ֥ה indicates a covering or concealing action, aligning with the Hebrew sense of love as a protective force against wrongs.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 10:12 explains that hatred creates conflict, while love has the power to forgive and cover over wrongdoings. This verse teaches the importance of love in resolving disputes and maintaining harmony in relationships.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that true love seeks to forgive and overlook faults, promoting healing and reconciliation rather than division.
Hatred creates an environment of strife and conflict, causing divisions among people and escalating disagreements.
Yes, love has the capacity to forgive and heal relationships, allowing people to move past their mistakes.
It highlights the contrasting effects of negative and positive emotions on our interactions, emphasizing the need for love to foster unity.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I seen love cover over wrongs in my life?
- How can I apply the principles of this verse to my relationships with others?
- What are some practical ways to choose love over hatred in conflicts?
- How can I encourage others to forgive and promote peace in their interactions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers often referenced this verse to discuss the nature of love and forgiveness. Their insights highlight the importance of love in overcoming sin and conflict.
Who can explain the bond of the charity of God? Who can express the splendor of its beauty? The height to which charity lifts us is inexpressible.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 10 →
Ignorance involves a lack of education and learning. It is teaching which implants in us the scientific knowledge of things divine and human. It is possible to live uprightly in poverty. It is also possible in wealth.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 10 →
This remedy has been granted by God to human weakness: If someone contracts any guilt while living on this earth, almsgiving wipes it away. Almsgiving is a work of love, and we know that “love covers a multitude of sins.”Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 10 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 10:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHatred stirreth up strifes,.... A man, whose heart is full of hatred and malice against his neighbour, will stir up, or awake, as the word (d) signifies, contentions and quarrels which were happily
Read John Gill on Proverbs 10 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. "Stirreth up" - literally, as one lifting up a spear which before had been at rest.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 10 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHatred stirreth up strifes upon every slight occasion, by filling men with suspicions and surmises, whereby they imagine faults where there are none, and aggravate every small offence. Love covereth all sins; either doth not severely observe, or doth willingly forget and forgive, the offences or injuries of others, and so preventeth contention and mischief.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 10 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.Ver. 12. Hatred stirreth up strifes.] Especially when hatred is grown from a passion to a habit, which is, when the heart is so settled in an alienation and estrangement from the person hated, that it grows to wish, and desire, and seek his hurt. I could like that exposition well if it were not Calvin’ s, said Maldonat; and that reformed religion, if Luther had not had a hand in it, said George Duke of Saxony. But love covereth all sins.] Love hath a large mantle. If I should find a bishop commitring adultery, said Constantine the Great, I would cover that foul fact with mine imperial robe rather than it should come…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 10 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12) Hatred stirreth up strifes . . .—Hatred rakes up again old feuds which have slumbered, but love covers up and refuses to look at any wrong done to it. A similar expression occurs in 1 Peter 4:8 and James 5:20, though probably in a somewhat different sense. (See the note on the former passage.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 10 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. Hatred stirreth up strifes] It seeks for occasions to provoke enmity. It delights in broils. On the contrary, love conciliates; removes aggravations; puts the best construction on every thing; and pours water, not oil, upon the flame.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 10 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. love covereth &c.] See 1 Peter 4:8, where the use of charity for love in A.V. obscures the fact that it is probably a quotation of this proverb. The LXX., however, has here a different reading (πάνταςδὲτοὺςμὴφιλονεικοῦνταςκαλύπτειφιλία), so that the Apostle must either have quoted from the Hebrew, or taken the proverb as it was then in common use. Comp. James 5:20.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 10 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLove covereth all sins - i. e., First hides, does not expose, and then forgives and forgets all sins.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
Tyndale line
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all transgressions.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Hatred stirreth vp contentions: but loue couereth all trespasses.
Strictly literal
Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all transgressions.
Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth.
Hatred awakens contentions, || And love covers over all transgressions.
Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love throweth a cover over all transgressions.
Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers over all offenses.
From the Latin
Hatred stirreth up strifes: and charity covereth all sins.
Simplified
Hatred causes conflict, but love covers all wrongs.
Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are covered up by love.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 10:12 states, "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions." The Septuagint has a similar sentiment, as it matches 7 of the 8 words from the Masoretic Text, indicating agreement in the overall message. However, the specific wording and structure may differ due to the translation process. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, as they align with the Masoretic Text in content.
שִׂ֭נְאָה תְּעוֹרֵ֣ר מְדָנִ֑ים וְעַ֥ל כָּל־ פְּ֝שָׁעִ֗ים תְּכַסֶּ֥ה אַהֲבָֽה׃
7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 10:12
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שִׂנְאָה (sin'ah) refers to the concepts of hating and hatred. It encompasses the idea of intense dislike, applicable to both human and divine contexts. The word is derived from a root meaning to hate, and its usage is noted in various instances throughout the Old Testament.
שִׂנְאָה n.f. hating, hatred
base
H8135 שִׂנְאָה hating, hatred
8135 sin'ah sin-aw'
from 8130; hate:--+ exceedingly, hate(-ful, - red).
see HEBREW for 08130
שִׂנְאָה (sin.ah) — hating.
1) hating, hatred, hate
1a) hatred
1a1) of man, God
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
Hatred
Among the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:20). Altogether different is the meaning of the word in Deut. 21:15; Matt. 6:24; Luke 14:26; Rom. 9:13, where it denotes only a less degree of love.
עוּר (uwr) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rouse or awaken. It encompasses various forms, including to rouse oneself, be incited, or act in an excited manner. The entries suggest a range of uses from literal waking to figurative stirring up of emotions or actions, with different grammatical forms indicating nuances in meaning.
[עוּר] vb. rouse oneself, awake
Qal rouse oneself to activity
Niph. be roused; be incited to activity
Pō‛l. rouse, incite to activity
Pilp. rouse (i.e. raise ?) a cry of destruction
Hithpō‛l. and I was (joyfully) excited, triumphant
Hiph.
rouse
declarative or exhibitive sense, act in an aroused manner, awake
base
H5782 [עוּר] rouse oneself, awake
5782 `uwr oor
a primitive root (rather identical with 5783 through the idea
of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or
figuratively):--(a- )wake(-n, up), lift up (self), X master,
raise (up), stir up (self).
see HEBREW for 05783
עוּר (ur) — to rouse.
1) to rouse oneself, awake, awaken, incite
1a) (Qal) to rouse oneself, awake
1b) (Niphal) to be roused
1c) (Polel) to stir up, rouse, incite
1d) (Hithpolel) to be excited, be triumphant
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to rouse, stir up
1e2) to act in an aroused manner, awake
V-o-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singularHVpi3fs
מָדוֹן (māḏôn) refers to strife or contention, highlighting conflict or discord. It is derived from a form related to דִּין (dîn), which also pertains to disputes. The term appears in contexts involving disagreements or disputes, emphasizing its association with conflict.
מָדוֹן n.m. strife, contention
strife, contention
object of contention
base
H4090 דִּין, דּוּן
4090 mdan med-awn'
a form of 4066:--discord, strife.
see HEBREW for 04066
מְדָן (me.dan) — strife.
strife, contention
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
HC/R — Conjunction · prepositionHC/R
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
פֶּ֫שַׁע (pesha`) means transgression and is derived from a root that implies revolt, whether national, moral, or religious. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including offenses against individuals, nations, and God, as well as the associated guilt and punishment. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
פֶּ֫שַׁע n.m. transgression
base
H6588 פֶּ֫שַׁע transgression
6588 pesha` peh'-shah
from 6586; a revolt (national, moral or
religious):--rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
see HEBREW for 06586
פֶּ֫שַׁע (pe.sah) — transgression.
1) transgression, rebellion
1a1) transgression (against individuals)
1a2) transgression (nation against nation)
1a3) transgression (against God)
1a3a) in general
1a3b) as recognised by sinner
1a3c) as God deals with it
1a3d) as God forgives
1a4) guilt of transgression
1a5) punishment for transgression
1a6) offering for transgression
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The Hebrew word כָּסָה (*kacah*) primarily means to cover or conceal. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to clothe, hide, or overwhelm. The entries describe various forms of the verb, such as being covered or covering oneself, and its use in contexts like protection or sin. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[כָּסָה] vb. cover
Qal
conceal
pass. (cstr.) covered in respect of sin (by God, which he thus puts out of sight)
Niph. covered
Pi.
cover, clothe
cover, conceal blood
cover (with covering of protection)
cover, spread over
cover, overwhelm
cover over
Pual.
be covered
be clothed
Hithp. cover, clothe oneself
base
H3680 כָּסָה cover .. conceal
. pass. (cstr.) covered in respect of sin (by God, which he thus puts out of sight)
. covered
. . cover, clothe
. cover, conceal blood
. cover (with covering of protection)
. cover, spread over
. cover, overwhelm
. cover over
. . be covered
. be clothed
. cover, clothe oneself
3680 kacah kaw-saw'
a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows;
by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy):--clad
self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide,
overwhelm. Compare 3780.
see HEBREW for 03780
כָּסָה (ka.sah) — to cover.
1) to cover, conceal, hide
1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle)
1b) (Niphal) to be covered
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cover, clothe
1c2) to cover, conceal
1c3) to cover (for protection)
1c4) to cover over, spread over
1c5) to cover, overwhelm
1d) (Pual)
1d1) to be covered
1d2) to be clothed
1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singularHVpi3fs
The Hebrew word אַהֲבָה (*'ahabah*) means 'love' and is a feminine noun derived from the root meaning the same. It encompasses various forms of love, including human affection between individuals, self-love, romantic love, and God's love for His people.
אַהֲבָה n.f. love
base
H160 אַהֲבָה love
160 'ahabah a-hab-aw
feminine of 158 and meaning the same:--love.
see HEBREW for 0158
אַהֲבָה (a.ha.vah) — love.
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
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
luv ('ahebh, 'ahabhah, noun; phileo, agapao, verb; agape, noun): Love to both God and man is fundamental to true religion, whether as expressed in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Jesus Himself declared that all the law and the prophets hang upon love (Mt 22:40; Mr 12:28-34). Paul, in his matchless ode on love (1Co 13), makes it the greatest of the graces of the Christian life--greater than speaking with tongues, or the gift of prophecy, or the possession of a faith of superior excellence; for without love all these gifts and graces, desirable and useful as they are in themselves, are as nothing, certainly of no permanent value in the sight of God. Not that either Jesus or Paul underestimates the faith from which all the graces proceed, for this grace is recognized as…
Love
This word seems to require explanation only in the case of its use by our Lord in his interview with “Simon, the son of Jonas,” after his resurrection (John 21:16, 17). When our Lord says, “Lovest thou me?” he uses the Greek word agapas; and when Simon answers, he uses the Greek word philo, i.e., “I love.” This is the usage in the first and second questions put by our Lord; but in the third our Lord uses Simon’s word. The distinction between these two Greek words is thus fitly described by Trench:, ”Agapan has more of judgment and deliberate choice; philein has more of attachment and peculiar personal affection. Thus the ‘Lovest thou’ (Gr. agapas) on the lips of the Lord seems to Peter at this moment too cold a word, as though his Lord were keeping him at a distance, or at least not inviting him to draw near, as in the…
GOD IS LOVE; AND HE THAT DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD, AND GOD IN HIM, 1Jo 4:16. Love is a chief attribute of Jehovah, the length and breadth and height and depth of which are beyond comprehension, for they are infinite, Eph 3:18,19. Between the three Persons of the Godhead, love is unutterable full, perfect, and blissful; towards holy angels and Christians, God’s love is an infinite fatherly complacency and affection; towards sinners, it is immeasurable compassion. It is shown in all his works and ways, and dictated his holy law, but is most signally displayed in the gospel, Joh 3:16. "Herein is love."
Holy love in man would make the whole heart and soul supremely delight in and obey God, and cordially and practically love all beings according to their character-the good…
→ OF CHILDREN FOR PARENTS
See CHILDREN
→ OF GOD, LOVE OF
