Love, a central theme in the Bible, is portrayed in various forms, divine, familial, romantic, and selfless. In this compilation, we explore 30 Bible verses about love, each accompanied by a commentary.
These verses encapsulate the multifaceted nature of love as depicted in the scriptures, offering profound insights into God’s love for humanity, the importance of love in relationships, and the transformative power of love in our lives.
Bible verses about love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV):
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Paul’s eloquent description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 sets the foundation for understanding love’s enduring and selfless qualities.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, often referred to as the “love chapter,” provides a comprehensive portrait of love. Each attribute mentioned—patience, kindness, humility, selflessness, truthfulness, endurance—contributes to a profound understanding of love as a transformative and enduring force in our lives.
John 15:13 (NKJV):
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Jesus’ words in John 15:13 encapsulate the ultimate expression of love—sacrifice for others.
John 15:13 exemplifies sacrificial love. Jesus, by laying down His life for humanity, provides the highest standard of love. This verse serves as a poignant reminder of the depth and selflessness inherent in genuine love, urging believers to emulate this sacrificial spirit in their relationships.
Romans 13:10 (NKJV):
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Paul, in Romans 13:10, aligns love with the fulfillment of God’s law, emphasizing its positive and constructive nature.
Romans 13:10 establishes a profound connection between love and the fulfillment of divine law. Love, by its very nature, refrains from harming others, embodying the essence of God’s commandments. This verse challenges believers to view love not merely as a sentiment but as an active and righteous way of living.
1 John 4:19 (NKJV):
“We love Him because He first loved us.”
The reciprocity of love is beautifully expressed in 1 John 4:19, highlighting the divine initiative in igniting human love.
1 John 4:19 unveils the source of authentic love—God’s initiation. Our capacity to love is rooted in God’s love for us. This verse serves as a foundational truth, emphasizing the transformative power of experiencing and reciprocating the love of God in our relationships.
1 John 4:7 (NKJV):
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
John encourages believers to love one another, linking the expression of love to being born of God and knowing Him.
1 John 4:7 establishes a direct connection between love and one’s relationship with God. Genuine love is not just a human virtue; it emanates from God. This verse challenges believers to reflect God’s love in their interactions, viewing it as a tangible expression of their spiritual identity.
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV):
“Let all that you do be done with love.”
Paul’s succinct exhortation in 1 Corinthians 16:14 emphasizes the universality of love in every action and aspect of life.
1 Corinthians 16:14 serves as a comprehensive guideline for believers. Paul encourages a holistic approach to life, urging that every action, decision, and interaction be infused with love. This verse challenges the compartmentalization of love, advocating for its integration into the fabric of daily living.
Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV):
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”
Paul draws a parallel between marital love and Christ’s sacrificial love for the church in Ephesians 5:25, setting a high standard for husbands.
Ephesians 5:25 offers a profound model for marital love. Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, mirroring Christ’s devotion to the church. This verse challenges men to view love not as a mere sentiment but as a sacrificial commitment, rooted in Christ’s example.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV):
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Paul enumerates love as the first fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, highlighting its foundational role among the virtues produced by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 places love at the forefront of the fruits of the Spirit. As believers yield to the Holy Spirit, love becomes a natural outflow, influencing the entire spectrum of virtues listed. This verse underscores the transformative power of God’s love working within believers.
1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV):
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.'”
Peter emphasizes the paramount importance of fervent love in relationships, linking it to the capacity to forgive and cover sins.
1 Peter 4:8 accentuates the significance of fervent love. The depth of love, expressed passionately, possesses the ability to forgive and cover a multitude of sins. This verse challenges believers to cultivate a love that goes beyond surface-level sentiments, offering a transformative impact on relationships.
Colossians 3:14 (NKJV):
“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
Paul, in Colossians 3:14, elevates love as the crowning virtue, portraying it as the unifying force that brings perfection to other virtues.
Colossians 3:14 positions love as the bond of perfection. This verse underscores the synergistic relationship between love and other virtues, suggesting that love acts as a unifying and completing force. It challenges believers to prioritize and cultivate love as the overarching virtue in their character.
Song of Solomon 8:6 (NKJV):
“Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.”
The poetic imagery in Song of Solomon 8:6 depicts the intensity and permanence of love, drawing parallels with death.
Song of Solomon 8:6 captures the passionate and enduring nature of love. The use of sealing as a metaphor suggests an unbreakable and lasting commitment. This verse challenges believers to approach love with a sense of permanence and commitment, mirroring the strength associated with death.
1 John 4:16 (NKJV):
“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”
John, in 1 John 4:16, declares God’s identity as love and emphasizes the intimate connection between abiding in love and abiding in God.
1 John 4:16 delves into the profound nature of God’s identity as love. The reciprocal relationship between abiding in love and abiding in God suggests an inseparable connection. This verse challenges believers to view their abiding in God as intricately linked to their expression of love.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV):
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Paul highlights the depth of God’s love demonstrated through the sacrificial death of Christ in Romans 5:8.
Romans 5:8 unveils the unmatched demonstration of God’s love. The sacrificial act of Christ, dying for humanity while still in a state of sin, showcases a love that transcends human comprehension. This verse challenges believers to grasp the depth of God’s love and emulate it in their relationships.
Bible verses about love
1 John 3:18 (NKJV):
“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
John urges believers to move beyond mere verbal expressions of love and to demonstrate it through actions and truth in 1 John 3:18.
1 John 3:18 challenges the authenticity of love. John emphasizes the importance of aligning words with actions, urging believers to express love not only through speech but also through tangible deeds and genuine truthfulness. This verse invites reflection on the consistency and sincerity of one’s love.
Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV):
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Jesus, in Matthew 22:37-39, summarizes the essence of the commandments with the dual injunction to love God and love one’s neighbor.
Matthew 22:37-39 encapsulates the core of Christian living. Jesus condenses the multitude of commandments into the fundamental principles of loving God and loving others. This verse challenges believers to prioritize love as the guiding force in their relationship with God and humanity.
1 John 4:8 (NKJV):
“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
John establishes a direct correlation between knowing God and expressing love in 1 John 4:8, emphasizing love as an inherent attribute of God.
1 John 4:8 underscores the intrinsic connection between knowing God and expressing love. If love is absent, one lacks a true understanding of God. This verse challenges believers to evaluate the authenticity of their relationship with God by the presence and expression of love in their lives.
Matthew 5:43-44 (NKJV):
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
Jesus, in Matthew 5:43-44, expands the concept of love by instructing believers to love even their enemies.
Matthew 5:43-44 challenges conventional notions of love. Jesus extends the command to love beyond familiar circles to include enemies. This verse invites believers to embody a radical and transformative love that transcends human expectations, reflecting the boundless nature of God’s love.
Proverbs 10:12 (NKJV):
“Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”
The contrast between hatred and love is vividly portrayed in Proverbs 10:12, highlighting love as a unifying and reconciling force.
Proverbs 10:12 contrasts the divisive nature of hatred with the unifying power of love. Love, described as covering sins, suggests a reconciling and forgiving quality. This verse challenges believers to prioritize love as a means of fostering unity and healing in relationships.
1 Corinthians 8:1 (NKJV):
“Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 8:1, contrasts the potentially prideful nature of knowledge with the constructive and uplifting nature of love.
1 Corinthians 8:1 delves into the dynamics between knowledge and love. While knowledge can lead to pride, love serves as a constructive force that builds up. This verse challenges believers to cultivate a love that seeks the well-being and edification of others, transcending intellectual pride.
Proverbs 17:17 (NKJV):
“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
The enduring nature of love in friendship is encapsulated in Proverbs 17:17, emphasizing its constancy and support.
Proverbs 17:17 offers a profound insight into the qualities of true friendship. Love, depicted as a consistent and supportive force, becomes particularly evident during challenging times. This verse challenges believers to embody a love that remains steadfast and supportive, mirroring the loyalty of a true friend.
1 John 4:10 (NKJV):
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
John, in 1 John 4:10, emphasizes the foundation of love in God’s initiative—sending His Son for the redemption of humanity.
1 John 4:10 delves into the essence of love. The initiation of love is attributed to God, who sent His Son for the atonement of sins. This verse challenges believers to recognize and appreciate the divine origin of love, prompting a response of gratitude and reciprocation.
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV):
“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:17-19 emphasizes the transformative power of being rooted and grounded in love, leading to a profound understanding of Christ’s love.
Ephesians 3:17-19 unfolds a prayer for believers to be firmly rooted in love. The imagery of comprehending the dimensions of Christ’s love suggests a deep and transformative understanding. This verse challenges believers to seek a profound experience of Christ’s love that goes beyond intellectual knowledge, resulting in a fullness of God’s presence.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV):
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:13, declares love as the preeminent virtue among faith, hope, and love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 provides a hierarchy among virtues. While faith and hope are crucial, love is identified as the greatest. This verse challenges believers to prioritize and cultivate a love that surpasses other virtues, recognizing its unparalleled significance in the Christian journey.
1 John 4:11 (NKJV):
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
John, in 1 John 4:11, draws a direct connection between God’s love for humanity and the obligation for believers to love one another.
1 John 4:11 establishes a principle of reciprocity. The love that believers have received from God becomes the impetus for loving others. This verse challenges believers to view their capacity to love as an overflow of the divine love they have experienced, prompting a natural response of love towards others.
Romans 12:9 (NKJV):
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”
Paul, in Romans 12:9, urges believers to exhibit genuine love devoid of hypocrisy, accompanied by a discerning attitude towards good and evil.
Romans 12:9 sets a standard for authentic love. The call to love without hypocrisy implies sincerity and genuineness. This verse challenges believers to cultivate a love that is not tainted by pretense, aligned with a discerning stance against evil and an unwavering commitment to what is good.
Proverbs 3:3 (NKJV):
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.”
The coupling of mercy and truth in Proverbs 3:3 highlights the importance of aligning love with both compassion and integrity.
Proverbs 3:3 intertwines mercy and truth, suggesting that genuine love encompasses both compassion and integrity. This verse challenges believers to bind these qualities around their lives, allowing love to be expressed in a harmonious balance of mercy and truth.
John 13:34-35 (NKJV):
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus issues a new commandment in John 13:34-35, elevating the standard of love by calling believers to love as He has loved.
John 13:34-35 introduces a revolutionary standard of love. Jesus not only commands love but sets His sacrificial love as the benchmark. This verse challenges believers to emulate Christ’s love, recognizing that such love becomes a distinctive mark of genuine discipleship.
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV):
“Let all that you do be done with love.”
Paul’s concise directive in 1 Corinthians 16:14 emphasizes the universality of love in every action and aspect of life.
1 Corinthians 16:14 serves as a comprehensive guideline for believers. Paul encourages a holistic approach to life, urging that every action, decision, and interaction be infused with love. This verse challenges the compartmentalization of love, advocating for its integration into the fabric of daily living.
1 John 4:18 (NKJV):
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
John, in 1 John 4:18, explores the transformative power of perfect love in dispelling fear and torment.
1 John 4:18 delves into the dynamics between love and fear. Perfect love, characterized by its completeness and maturity, has the capacity to dispel fear. This verse challenges believers to grow in their understanding and expression of perfect love, recognizing its liberating effect on the human spirit.
Luke 6:35 (NKJV):
“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
Jesus, in Luke 6:35, challenges believers to extend love even to their enemies, mirroring the kindness of the Most High.
Luke 6:35 presents a radical call to love. Jesus urges believers to demonstrate love not only to those who reciprocate but also to enemies. This verse challenges believers to embody a love that transcends human expectations, reflecting the boundless nature of God’s love.
Conclusion: Bible verses about love
These 30 Bible verses about love, accompanied by insightful commentaries, provide a rich tapestry that explores the multifaceted dimensions of love as portrayed in the scriptures. From the sacrificial love modeled by Christ to the practical exhortations of Paul and John, the verses offer a comprehensive understanding of love as a transformative and foundational aspect of the Christian life.
As believers reflect on these scriptures, may they be inspired to cultivate and express a love that mirrors the divine, impacting their relationships and radiating God’s love to the world.
Read: Popular Bible Verses On Believing In Yourself (With Biblical Interpretations)