Summary
Bible verse about hate
Bible verse about hate
Part 1: Comprehensive Collection of Bible Verses About Hate
Leviticus 19:17 “Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”
Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
Proverbs 10:18 “Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
Proverbs 15:17 “Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
Proverbs 26:24-26 “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”
Psalm 5:5 “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong.”
Psalm 11:5 “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”
Psalm 34:21 “Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.”
Psalm 45:7 “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Psalm 97:10 “Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”
Psalm 101:3 “I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.”
Psalm 119:104 “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”
Psalm 119:113 “I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.”
Psalm 119:128 “And because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.”
Psalm 119:163 “I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law.”
Psalm 139:21-22 “Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
Amos 5:15 “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.”
Zechariah 8:17 “Do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this, declares the Lord.”
Malachi 1:2-3 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 24:9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.”
Matthew 24:10 “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.”
Luke 6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”
Luke 6:27-28 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”
John 3:20 “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”
John 7:7 “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.”
John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
John 15:23-25 “Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’”
John 17:14 “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”
Romans 1:30 “…slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents.”
Romans 9:13 “Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'”
Romans 12:9 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Ephesians 5:29 “After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church.”
Titus 3:3 “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.”
Hebrews 1:9 “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
1 John 2:9 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.”
1 John 2:11 “But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”
1 John 3:13 “Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.”
1 John 3:15 “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
1 John 4:20 “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.”
Jude 1:23 “Save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Revelation 2:6 “But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
Part 2: Expert FAQ – Bible Verses About Hate
General Biblical Questions on Hate
1. Does God hate anyone according to the Bible? Theologically, God is love (1 John 4:8), but Scripture does use the word “hate” regarding God. For example, Psalm 5:5 says God hates “all who do wrong,” and Malachi 1:3 says, “Esau I have hated.” However, biblical scholars interpret this “hate” not as malicious emotional vitriol, but as a judicial rejection of sin and the choice of one covenant line over another (election). It signifies God’s holy incompatibility with wickedness.
2. What are the 7 things God hates in the Bible? Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven abominations God hates:
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Haughty eyes (Pride).
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A lying tongue.
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Hands that shed innocent blood.
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A heart that devises wicked schemes.
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Feet that are quick to rush into evil.
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A false witness who pours out lies.
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A person who stirs up conflict in the community.
3. Is it a sin to hate? Yes and no. The Bible commands Christians to “Hate what is evil” (Romans 12:9). However, hating people is strictly forbidden. 1 John 3:15 equates hating a brother or sister with murder. The biblical standard is to hate the sin but love the sinner, maintaining benevolence toward the person while rejecting their evil actions.
4. What is the Bible verse “hate the sin, love the sinner”? The exact phrase “hate the sin, love the sinner” does not appear in the Bible. It is a concept derived from Jude 1:23 (“hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh”) and famously popularized by St. Augustine and later Gandhi. It accurately reflects the biblical theology of Romans 5:8, where God loved sinners enough to die for them while they were still sinners.
5. Why did Jesus say to “hate” your family in Luke 14:26? This is a classic example of Semitic hyperbole (exaggeration for effect). Jesus said one must “hate father and mother” to be His disciple. He did not mean literal malice, as this would contradict the commandment to “Honor your father and mother.” He meant that a disciple’s love for God must be so supreme that all other earthly attachments look like hate by comparison. It is a teaching on priority, not animosity.
Applying Biblical Teachings on Hate
6. How can I stop hating someone who hurt me? The Bible prescribes prayer as the antidote to hate. Matthew 5:44 commands, “Pray for those who persecute you.” Prayer changes the heart of the offended party. Additionally, Ephesians 4:31-32 commands believers to get rid of all bitterness and malice, choosing to forgive “just as in Christ God forgave you.”
7. What does the Bible say about hating your enemies? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus radically reversed the culture of his day. In Matthew 5:43-44, He says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies.” This established the Christian ethic of non-retaliation and active benevolence toward those who oppose us.
8. Does the Bible say hatred is murder? Yes. 1 John 3:15 states, “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” Jesus also taught in Matthew 5:21-22 that harboring anger and contempt in one’s heart is the moral equivalent of murder, as both desire the elimination of the other person.
9. What does “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” mean? Found in Romans 9:13 (quoting Malachi), this refers to God’s sovereign choice in election. In Hebrew idiom, to love one and hate another often means to choose one and reject the other for a specific purpose. God chose the line of Jacob to bear the Messiah, while Esau’s line (Edom) was not chosen. It emphasizes God’s purpose, not emotional spite.
10. Is righteous anger the same as hate? No. Righteous anger is a temporary reaction to injustice or sin (Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin”). Hate is a hardened, settled state of the heart that wishes ill upon another. Jesus showed righteous anger (cleansing the temple) but never hate.
Hate in the End Times and Culture
11. Does the Bible predict increased hatred in the end times? Yes. Matthew 24:10 says that in the last days, “many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.” verse 12 adds that “the love of most will grow cold.” The Bible characterizes the end times as a period of intense division and lack of natural affection.
12. Why does the world hate Christians? Jesus explained this in John 15:18-19: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” He explains that the world hates his followers because they are “not of the world.” The values of the Kingdom of God (holiness, humility, truth) are often diametrically opposed to worldly values, causing friction and animosity.
13. What does the Bible say about self-hatred? While the specific term “self-hatred” isn’t used, the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31) implies a foundational, healthy love for oneself as a creation of God. Ephesians 5:29 notes that “no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for it.” Self-hatred denies the value God placed on the individual by creating them in His image and redeeming them with Christ’s blood.
14. Can a Christian hate evil? Not only can a Christian hate evil, they must. Psalm 97:10 says, “Let those who love the Lord hate evil.” Romans 12:9 says, “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” True holiness requires a repulsion toward sin and injustice.
15. What is the “root of bitterness” in the Bible? Hebrews 12:15 warns against a “root of bitterness” springing up to cause trouble. Hatred often begins as a small seed of unforgiveness or offense. If not dealt with quickly through forgiveness, it grows into a deep root that defiles the person and those around them.
Specific Verse Interpretations
16. What does Psalm 139:21-22 mean (“I hate them with perfect hatred”)? David writes, “Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord… I have nothing but hatred for them.” This is an expression of David’s zeal for God’s honor. He is aligning himself so fully with God that God’s enemies become his enemies. However, the New Testament calls believers to a higher standard of loving enemies, leaving judgment to God.
17. What does “hate the light” mean in John 3:20? It refers to those who practice evil avoiding the truth. “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” Hatred of the truth is a defense mechanism to protect one’s sin.
18. Did God hate divorce in the Bible? Malachi 2:16 (in many translations) says, “I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel.” God hates the pain, violence, and breaking of the covenant involved in divorce, though He loves the people involved. Note: Some modern translations render this verse as “the man who hates and divorces his wife,” focusing on the man’s treachery.
19. What is the penalty for hatred in the Bible? 1 John 2:11 says that whoever hates his brother “is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.” The immediate penalty is spiritual blindness and lack of direction. The ultimate penalty, if unrepented, is separation from God, as hatred is contrary to the nature of God.
20. How does “perfect love drive out fear” relate to hate? 1 John 4:18 says, “Perfect love drives out fear.” Hate is often a secondary emotion rooted in fear (fear of the “other,” fear of loss, fear of being hurt). By receiving God’s perfect love, fear is removed, which often dissolves the root cause of hatred.
21. Does the Bible address hate crimes? While the modern legal term “hate crime” isn’t used, the Bible addresses violence motivated by animosity. The story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) is the first hate crime, motivated by jealousy. The Bible condemns all violence and partiality based on tribe, race, or status (Galatians 3:28).
22. Can demons cause hatred? Yes. The Bible describes Satan as a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). Spiritual warfare involves fighting against “spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12) that promote division, discord, and hatred among people.
23. What is the difference between “abhor” and “hate” in the Bible? They are often synonyms, but “abhor” (Hebrew: ta’ab) carries a sense of physical disgust or revulsion, often related to idolatry or ritual impurity. “Hate” (sane) is a broader term for opposition or rejection.
24. Why is “love money” called a root of evil and not “hate”? 1 Timothy 6:10 says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Ironically, the excessive love of money often leads to the hatred of people, as people are used or discarded in the pursuit of wealth.
25. How to explain “God hates the wicked” (Psalm 11:5) to a child? It is best explained that God hates the bad things people do because it hurts others and separates them from Him. Just as a parent hates when their child is sick or makes bad choices, God hates the wickedness that destroys His children.
26. What did Jesus mean by “The world… hates me because I testify that its works are evil” (John 7:7)? Jesus exposed the moral reality of the world. People generally prefer to believe they are “good.” When Jesus revealed the standard of God’s holiness, it exposed human sin, generating hatred from those who did not want to repent.
27. Is there a “time to hate” according to Ecclesiastes? Yes. Ecclesiastes 3:8 says there is “a time to love and a time to hate.” This implies there are appropriate times to stand against injustice, tyranny, and evil. It is not a license for personal malice, but an acknowledgment of the battle between good and evil.
28. How does forgiveness relate to hate? Forgiveness is the decision to release the debt owed to you by an offender. It is the surgical procedure that removes hate from the heart. Without forgiveness, hate turns into bitterness.
29. Can you love God and hate your brother? No. 1 John 4:20 is explicit: “For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” You cannot love the Parent (God) while hating His children.
30. What is the ultimate cure for hate? The Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22 lists “Love” as the first fruit of the Spirit. Human effort can suppress hate, but only the indwelling Spirit of God can replace a heart of stone with a heart of flesh capable of divine love (Ezekiel 36:26).
