“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5· Moses
What Does the Bible Say About God's Love?
The Bible addresses god's love across both Old and New Testaments. These verses are organized by biblical era — from the patriarchs to the apostles — letting Scripture speak for itself.
40 verses·8 eras·10 promises
Exodus (~1400 BC)
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7· God
“"'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.”
— Leviticus 19:18· God
Judges (~1200 BC)
“Ruth said, "Don't entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God;”
Divided Kingdom (~930 BC)
“Yahweh, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.”
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
“Isn't my word like fire? says Yahweh; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
— Jeremiah 23:29· God
Exile (~586 BC)
“Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”
“"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you!”
“Yahweh appeared of old to me, [saying], Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.”
Life of Jesus (~30 AD)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.”
— John 13:34· Jesus
“But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.”
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."”
“"But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,”
— Luke 6:27· Jesus
“and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."”
— Luke 3:22· Luke
“you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.”
— Mark 12:30· Jesus
“A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
— Matthew 22:39· Jesus
“Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'”
— Matthew 22:37· Jesus
“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."”
— Matthew 17:5· God
“But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
— Matthew 5:39· Jesus
“Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."”
— Matthew 3:17· God
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
— John 15:13· Jesus
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
— John 10:11· Jesus
“If you love me, keep my commandments.”
— John 14:15· Jesus
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,”
— Matthew 5:44· Jesus
“The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."”
— Mark 12:31· Jesus
Early Church (~50 AD)
“Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,”
— 1 Corinthians 13:4· Paul
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2· Paul
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
— 1 Corinthians 16:14· Paul
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”
“But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:13· Paul
Apostolic Era (~50 AD)
“He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.”
— 1 John 4:8· John
United Kingdom (~1000 BC)
“How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.”
“a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:8· Solomon
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.”
— Proverbs 10:12· Solomon
“Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.”
— Psalms 118:1· David
“Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.”
— Psalms 107:1· anonymous
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up.”
— Psalms 27:10· David
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