Biblical Definition of Love: Words and Context
A biblical definition of love must consider both source words and the actions a passage names. Hebrew and Greek have several relevant forms.
Last updated October 15, 2026
Contents9
A biblical definition of love must consider both source words and the actions a passage names. Hebrew and Greek have several relevant forms. The fact that English says love does not prove that one fixed hierarchy of feelings sits behind every verse.
Love in the selected texts has a stated object and a context. Deuteronomy commands love of God; John records Jesus' questions to Peter; 1 Corinthians describes love's conduct. Agape and phileo can be useful lookup terms. They should not become a rigid code that decides a conversation before its wording and purpose are read.
Biblical Definition of Love: source entries
| Term | Entry ID | Historical entry wording | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ahab | 157 | […] to have affection for (sexually or otherwise):--(be-)love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. | Strong original Hebrew |
Scroll for more →
| Term | Entry ID | Historical entry wording | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| agape | 26 | […] love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast: […] | Strong original Greek |
| phileo | 5368 | […] to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for […] | Strong original Greek |
Scroll for more →
Deuteronomy: whom to love
The command in Deuteronomy 6 follows the call to hear. It names God as the object of love and speaks of heart, soul and might. The following instructions concern words taught and remembered in daily life. The command has a communal and practical frame.
A definition that treats love as feeling alone misses those instructions. Equally, reducing love to a cold list of tasks would go beyond what a gloss alone can prove. The passage brings allegiance and daily practice together through its own language.
John 21: read the whole exchange
Jesus questions Peter and gives him a task involving the flock. Greek love verbs are part of the exchange, and their relation has been debated. The historical entries distinguish some tendencies. That is not a warrant to make the entire meaning depend on a fixed ladder of divine and lesser love.
Pay attention to Peter's distress at the repeated question and to the repeated commission. Those narrative features are visible in the passage. Any account of the verb changes should explain them alongside those features, rather than replacing the scene with a word chart.
First Corinthians 13: the description has an argument
The chapter contrasts gifts and great acts with the absence of love. It then describes love's conduct and speaks of what endures. The chapter's place in a discussion of gifts matters. It is not only a detachable wedding reading.
The KJV uses charity where the other selected editions use love. A modern reader should not assume the older word means only a monetary donation. The chapter itself describes patience, kindness and the absence of envy. Those actions guide the sense better than a modern narrow use of charity.
Wording and context in three editions
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
King James Version (eng-kjv2006, standard 1769 text)
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
World English Bible Classic (eng-web, US spelling)
4 Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.
5 You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
American Standard Version (eng-asv)
4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:
5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Before (WEB Classic): 2 that you might fear Yahweh your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you […] 3 Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it, that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
After (WEB Classic): 6 These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
John 21:15-17
King James Version (eng-kjv2006, standard 1769 text)
15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
World English Bible Classic (eng-web, US spelling)
15 So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
American Standard Version (eng-asv)
15 So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Before (WEB Classic): 13 Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after he had risen from the dead.
After (WEB Classic): 18 Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
1 Corinthians 13 (chapter 13)
King James Version (eng-kjv2006, standard 1769 text)
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
World English Bible Classic (eng-web, US spelling)
1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,
5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
13 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
American Standard Version (eng-asv)
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;
7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
10 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.
13 But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
FAQ
Does agape always mean divine love and phileo always mean lesser love?
That rigid rule is too strong for a contextual word study. The entries have ranges, and individual passages must be read. In John 21, the whole exchange and commission remain essential evidence.
Related meanings
Continue this study
Verdict: Biblical Definition of Love
A biblical definition of love rests on the words and conduct a passage names. Deuteronomy's command, John's exchange and Paul's description keep the question concrete. Avoid a rigid love-word ladder imposed before the text is read.