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What does the Bible say about hating people?

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The Bible condemns hatred of people as contrary to life in Christ and calls believers to love even those who oppose them. First John 2:9-11 teaches that hatred leaves a person in darkness, while love for fellow believers shows that one walks in the light. Jesus commands love of neighbor in Luke 10:27 and warns that His followers will face the world's hatred in John 15:18-25, yet He does not permit revenge. Romans 12:19 and Matthew 5:38-39 direct Christians to entrust justice to God rather than repay wrong for wrong. Because love for Christ is expressed through obedience, John 14:15 calls us to reject hatred, seek repentance, and pursue patient, costly love.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 1 John 2:9 15 votes

    He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now.

  • Romans 12:19 13 votes

    Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."

  • John 15:18-25 7 votes

    [18] If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [20] Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his lord.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. [21] But all these things will they do to you for my name's sake, because they don't know him who sent me. [22] If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. [23] He who hates me, hates my Father also. [24] If I hadn't done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn't have had sin. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father. [25] But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

  • Matthew 5:38-39 7 votes

    [38] "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' [39] But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

  • James 4:17 5 votes

    To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

  • Psalms 11:5 5 votes

    Yahweh examines the righteous, But the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.

  • 1 Timothy 5:8 5 votes

    But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

  • 1 John 2:11 5 votes

    But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn't know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

  • Luke 10:27 4 votes

    He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

  • John 14:15 3 votes

    If you love me, keep my commandments.

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