Hatred can consume our hearts, leaving no room for love or peace. The Bible offers wisdom and guidance on how to overcome and understand hatred. Let’s explore some key verses that help us confront negative emotions and nurture love and kindness in our lives.
Bible Verses About Hatred Towards Others
1 John 2:9 – Hatred and love cannot coexist
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.”
1 John 3:15 – Hatred leads to spiritual death
“Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
Proverbs 10:12 – Love conquers hatred
“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
Matthew 5:44 – Call to love enemies
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Ephesians 4:31 – Let go of bitterness
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Romans 13:10 – Love fulfills the law
“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Galatians 5:15 – Beware of divisive hatred
“If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
Proverbs 26:24 – Hidden hatred is deceitful
“Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.”
James 4:11 – Criticizing others is hatred
“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.”
Matthew 7:1-2 – Judging others reflects our own heart
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.”
Luke 6:37 – The importance of mercy
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
1 Peter 2:1 – Reject all forms of hatred
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
Mark 12:31 – Love your neighbor as yourself
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Colossians 3:13 – Forgive as the Lord forgave
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Leviticus 19:17 – Address hatred with love
“Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.”
John 15:17 – Command to love one another
“This is my command: Love each other.”
Proverbs 15:17 – Better a meal of love than hatred
“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
Matthew 6:14-15 – Importance of forgiveness
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Romans 12:20 – Overcome hatred with kindness
“On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”
Luke 10:27 – Love as the greatest command
“He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
James 2:8 – Speak and act as those who are judged by the law of love
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love is the opposite of hatred
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
Proverbs 17:9 – Love covers transgressions
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
John 4:20 – Loving God means loving others
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
Psalm hatred towards others is cautioned
“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.”
Proverbs 14:21 – Hatred despises others
“It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”
Isaiah 1:17 – Seek justice, not hatred
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
Galatians 6:10 – Do good to all
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
1 Peter 3:9 – Repay evil with good
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Matthew 18:35 – Forgiveness is essential
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Philippians 2:3 – Value others above yourselves
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 – Seek to do good to everyone
“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”
Psalm 97:10 – Love the Lord, hate evil
“Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”
Jeremiah 29:11 – Plan for hope, not hatred
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
John 13:34-35 – New commandment of love
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Vanity
What Does the Bible Say About Hatred Towards Others?
When we explore what the Bible says about hatred towards others, we quickly realize that the scriptures emphasize love, reconciliation, and understanding. Hatred is frequently condemned, seen as a destructive force that pulls us away from God’s teachings and our community.
In the teachings of Jesus, love is a core commandment. He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This radical love is a call to transcend our personal dislikes and grievances. It challenges us to practice empathy and compassion, even in the face of mistreatment.
The Apostle John provides a stark reminder that harboring hatred contradicts our professed faith. According to his letters, one cannot claim to love God while hating a brother or sister. This sentiment pushes us towards an integrated spirituality that reflects genuine care for others.
Proverbs and other wisdom literature often speak about the outcomes of hatred. They advise that hatred stirs up strife, while love covers all offenses. This practical perspective helps us see that hate breeds more conflict, whereas choosing love can calm tensions and promote harmony.
Moreover, the Bible stresses the emotional and spiritual costs of hatred. Expressions of bitterness, anger, and malice can corrode our well-being and cloud our judgment. We are encouraged to let go of these feelings and seek peace.
Paul, in his letters, offers a vision of communal life rooted in love and mutual respect. He encourages us to bear with one another and forgive as the Lord forgave us. This practice of forgiveness and understanding is crucial for fostering a cohesive and supportive community.
Thus, the Biblical narrative steers us towards a path of love, empathy, and forgiveness, rejecting the corrosive power of hatred. It’s a challenging yet necessary journey, inviting us to reflect God’s love in our interactions with others.
In essence, the teachings across both Old and New Testaments call us to reject hatred and embrace a life marked by love and reconciliation. This alignment with divine principles enhances our relationships and honors our shared humanity.