What does the Bible say about hateful people?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls us to reject hatred, resist evil, and treat every person with the dignity of one made by God, while entrusting judgment to him. Ecclesiastes 3:8 recognizes that there is a time to hate, meaning a rightful hatred of sin and wickedness rather than personal malice toward people. James 4:7 calls believers to submit to God and resist the devil, not to be ruled by hostility. Acts 10:28 shows that God breaks down sinful prejudice, teaching his people not to regard others as unclean or beneath mercy. Because God is patient and desires repentance, as 2 Peter 3:9 says, Christians should speak truth, pursue peace, and pray even for those who act hatefully.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- James 4:7
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- Ecclesiastes 3:8
A time to love, And a time to hate; A time for war, And a time for peace.
- Acts 10:28
He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn't call any man unholy or unclean.
Related topics
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about hateful people and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about hateful people