Love — Meaning in the Bible
Faithful care and commitment to another's good. The Bible says God is love; Jesus summed up the law as loving God and loving your neighbour.
What it means
The law commands love for God with all your heart and love for your neighbour as yourself. Jesus named these the greatest commandments. Deuteronomy 6:4–5Leviticus 19:18Mark 12:28–31
John writes "God is love" and shows that love by God sending his Son. Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13: patient, kind, not seeking its own. 1 John 4:7–12John 3:161 Corinthians 13:4–7
Key passages
- Deuteronomy 6:4–5 — Love the LORD your God.
- Leviticus 19:18 — Love your neighbour as yourself.
- Mark 12:28–31 — The greatest commandments.
- John 13:34–35 — Love one another.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 — What love is.
- 1 John 4:7–12 — God is love.
Original language
ἀγάπη agapē
Greek · Strong’s G26 · gloss: “love”
The Greek noun agape, love. 1 Corinthians 13:41 John 4:8
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
For children
Love means caring for someone and doing what is good for them. Jesus said to love God and to love other people. Mark 12:30–31
Study further
- Deuteronomy 6:1–9 Love God.
- Luke 10:25–37 Who is my neighbour?
- 1 Corinthians 13 Love described.
- 1 John 4:7–21 God is love.