Bible Verses About Love

Scripture's deepest theme is the love of God. These verses about love reveal a love that gives, endures, and never fails.

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (KJV)

Aimed at a congregation using spiritual gifts to compete for status, this description of love served as a corrective, almost a checklist against behavior members were showing each other. It defines love through concrete conduct rather than warm feeling alone.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — John 13:34-35 (KJV)

A new commandment given during the last supper, minutes before the betrayal. The measure — as I have loved you — was about to be demonstrated.

“We love him, because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19 (KJV)

We love him because he first loved us settles the order of operations. It removes love as a qualification and makes it a response.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” — 1 John 4:7-8 (KJV)

God is love is stated twice in this letter and nowhere else in Scripture in that form. The conclusion drawn is practical: therefore love one another.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13 (KJV)

Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends, said the night before he did it. Friends is the word chosen, and he applies it to the listeners.

“This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” — Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV)

Asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus gives two and refuses to separate them. The second is called like unto the first.

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV)

Faith, hope and charity abide, and the greatest is charity — the ranking is stated without argument. It closes a chapter written to a congregation fighting over gifts.

“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.” — Song of Solomon 8:7 (KJV)

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it — imagery of an unquenchable fire. The next line says love cannot be bought.

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)

Charity shall cover the multitude of sins, given as fervent love among believers. Covering here means not exposing, in a community living closely.

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18 (KJV)

Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. The letter has just described a brother in need being ignored.

“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” — Proverbs 10:12 (KJV)

Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins — the proverb contrasts two ways of handling an offence. Covering is set against stirring.

“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” — Luke 6:35 (KJV)

Love ye your enemies, do good and lend hoping for nothing again. The reason given is that God is kind to the unthankful and the evil.

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” — Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

I have loved thee with an everlasting love, spoken to a people about to be carried into exile. The tense makes the love older than the crisis.

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)

He will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing — an image of God delighting audibly. It appears at the end of a short and severe book.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” — Romans 8:35 (KJV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ is followed by a list of things Paul had personally survived. The question is rhetorical because he had tested it.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” — 1 John 4:11 (KJV)

If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another — the obligation is derived rather than commanded. Ought carries the weight of the argument.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about love?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on love: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:19, 1 John 4:7-8, John 15:13, Matthew 22:37-39, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Song of Solomon 8:7, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 3:18, Proverbs 10:12, Luke 6:35, Jeremiah 31:3…

What is a good Bible verse about love?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is the passage most often quoted on love, with John 13:34-35 and 1 John 4:19 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these love verses?

You can read all of these verses about love — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.