Hatred is a powerful emotion that is addressed extensively in the Bible. It is often depicted as contrary to the nature and will of God, who is love (1 John 4:8). The Scriptures provide numerous insights into the origins, manifestations, and consequences of hatred, as well as guidance on overcoming it.

Old Testament References

1. Genesis 37:4 · The account of Joseph and his brothers illustrates the destructive nature of hatred. "When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him."

2. Leviticus 19:17 · The Law of Moses explicitly commands against harboring hatred. "You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him."

3. Proverbs 10:12 · Hatred is contrasted with love, which is seen as a healing force. "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions."

4. Proverbs 15:17 · The value of love over hatred is emphasized. "Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred."

New Testament References

1. Matthew 5:43-44 · Jesus teaches about love for enemies, directly opposing the natural inclination toward hatred. "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

2. John 15:18-19 · Jesus warns His disciples about the world's hatred. "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."

3. Galatians 5:19-21 · Hatred is listed among the works of the flesh, which are contrary to the Spirit. "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

4. 1 John 2:9 · Hatred is incompatible with walking in the light. "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness."

5. 1 John 3:15 · The severity of hatred is equated with murder. "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer."

Theological Insights

Hatred is often seen as a manifestation of the sinful nature of humanity, a direct result of the fall. It is a barrier to fellowship with God and others, and it contradicts the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39). The Bible calls believers to overcome hatred through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, cultivating love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.Leviticus 19:17
You shall not hate your brother in your heart: you shall in any wise rebuke your neighbor, and not suffer sin on him.
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Psalm 25:19
Consider my enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
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Psalm 35:19
Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
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Proverbs 10:12,18
Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.
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Proverbs 15:17
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
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Proverbs 26:24-26
He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
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Matthew 5:43,44
You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.
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Matthew 6:15
But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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Matthew 10:22
And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.
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John 15:18,19,23-25
If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.
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John 17:14
I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
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Galatians 5:19,20
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
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Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
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Colossians 3:8
But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
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1 John 2:9,11
He that said he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now.
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1 John 3:10,13-15
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.
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1 John 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
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That the Scriptures are Divinely Inspired.
... exciting against themselves the intense hatred of the ... for this discourse consisted
of injunctions relating to marriage ... upon us the sacred Scriptures, to show ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter i that the scriptures are.htm

On Justice and Goodness.
... kind of hatred against them. And they gather together instances of this, wherever
they find a history in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, relating, eg, the ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter v on justice and goodness.htm

John v. 39, 40
... but, "Search the Scriptures." Since the sayings relating to Him ... I have shown that
ye did so from hatred of Him ... Law." As then He said of the Scriptures, in which ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xli john v 39.htm

Verse the Fourteenth 1.
... is, that such perfection be understood as relating not to ... thus I reject, according
to the Scriptures, this distinction ... way"the way of this hatred of servitude ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/verse the fourteenth 1.htm

Introduction.
... reproof, counsel, and instruction, in matters in no way relating to the giving of
the Scriptures. ... The same hatred of the principles of God's law, the same ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /introduction.htm

Days of Preparation
... who "died for our sins according to the Scriptures; . ... sought to make plain the
prophecies relating to the ... conversion was changed into intense hatred like that ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 13 days of preparation.htm

Kingo's Later Years
... A number of poems relating the adventures of the traveler ... burn within us when he
opened the Scriptures to us ... Leonora Ulfeldt, whom the pride and hatred of the ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter seven kingos later years.htm

Introduction
... reproof, counsel, and instruction, in matters in no way relating to the giving of
the Scriptures. ... The same hatred of the principles of God's law, the same ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/introduction.htm

The New Birth
... justification, explaining every point relating thereto, and opening the Scriptures
which treat ... into humility; passion into meekness; hatred, envy, malice ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 45 the new birth.htm

Introduction
... Attention is called to Rome's hatred of the Gospel ... of interpreters believe that the
prophecies relating to the ... Many are the scriptures which teach plainly that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/introduction.htm

Does God hate? If God is love, how can He hate? | GotQuestions.org

How does love cover all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12)? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to hate our father and mother (Luke 14:26)? | GotQuestions.org

Hatred: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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