What the Bible Says: The Meaning of Hate in the King James Version

In the King James Bible, “hate” typically refers to a strong aversion or enmity towards someone or something, often contrasted with love. It can indicate a rejection of unrighteousness or a commitment to righteousness, as seen in verses like Luke 14:26, where Jesus states that one must “hate” their family in comparison to their devotion to Him.

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Scripture

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.

Genesis 29:31-33

Meaning of “Hate” in the King James Bible

In the King James Bible, the concept of “hate” extends beyond mere animosity; it reflects a profound orientation towards values and priorities. This is particularly evident in passages such as Matthew 10:37, where Jesus declares that anyone who loves their father or mother more than Him is not worthy of Him. Here, “hate” serves as a stark contrast to the boundless love one should have for God, underlining the idea that true discipleship requires prioritizing one’s relationship with Christ above all earthly ties. This radical notion emphasizes commitment and loyalty, suggesting that genuine faith involves placing spiritual obligations over familial or societal expectations.

Moreover, the notion of “hate” in the scripture can also be understood as part of a moral framework where it encourages believers to reject sin and worldly influences. In Psalm 97:10, the psalmist asserts, “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.” This passage indicates that love for God inherently involves a strong aversion to what opposes His will. Thus, the broader meaning of “hate” encompasses a call not just to abstain from expressing negative emotions but to actively cultivate a disposition that favors righteousness over unrighteousness. In essence, biblical hate is tied to a fervent love and commitment to God, urging believers to align their lives with divine principles while disdainfully turning away from what contradicts their faith.

In the King James Bible, “hate” serves as a critical term that reveals the complexities of divine love and moral responsibility. This deeper interpretation is illuminated in the context of the Old Testament, where the concept often surfaces in discussions about loyalty and covenant. For instance, the book of Proverbs stresses the importance of wisdom and understanding, stating that those who find wisdom do not simply dislike folly; they actively reject it with a fervor that can be likened to strong aversion or “hate.” By framing wise living in terms of hatred against immorality, the scripture prompts believers to be vigilant about their choices, creating a clear demarcation between righteousness and wickedness.

Additionally, the theme of “hate” in the Bible also reflects a relational dynamic in understanding God’s justice and judgment. In Malachi, God expresses His disdain for Esau, saying, “I have hated Esau,” which denotes a rejection of those who stray from His ways and break the covenant. This divine “hate” emphasizes God’s unyielding justice and sets a stark contrast between those who embrace or reject His commandments. In this sense, hatred as represented in the Bible informs believers that the relationship with God is not simply about passive acceptance; it demands an active engagement against sin and a commitment to uphold divine statutes, propelling one toward a life characterized by love for God and rejection of evil. Thus, such references to “hate” invite a deeper examination of priorities and allegiances within the framework of biblical faith, ultimately steering believers toward a resilient identity rooted in the love of God and a disdain for what corrupts it.

The Contrast of Love and Hate

In the King James Bible, “hate” often serves as a stark contrast to love. This duality emphasizes the importance of love in the Christian faith, suggesting that to hate is to reject the fundamental commandment to love one another. Hate is depicted not merely as an emotion but as an active choice that leads to division and strife, highlighting the moral imperative to choose love over hate in relationships and community.

Spiritual Implications of Hate

Hate in the biblical context can also signify a spiritual condition that distances individuals from God. It is often associated with sin and disobedience, suggesting that harboring hate can lead to spiritual death and separation from divine grace. This understanding encourages believers to examine their hearts and attitudes, promoting a path of forgiveness and reconciliation as essential to spiritual health and growth.

Hate as a Form of Judgment

Another broader meaning of “hate” in the King James Bible relates to the concept of judgment. Hate can be seen as a manifestation of judgment against others, often stemming from pride or self-righteousness. This perspective warns against the dangers of harboring contempt for others, as it can lead to a cycle of negativity and conflict. The biblical narrative encourages humility and compassion, urging believers to refrain from judgment and instead extend grace and understanding.

How to Embrace Love and Overcome Life’s Challenges as a Christian

Embracing love as a Christian is not just a lofty ideal; it’s a transformative practice that can help us navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience. When we ground ourselves in the teachings of Jesus, we learn that love is both an action and a choice, often requiring us to step outside our comfort zones. In moments of difficulty, whether it’s a personal struggle or a conflict with others, we can turn to prayer and scripture for guidance, allowing God’s love to fill our hearts and overflow into our interactions. Remember, love is patient and kind, as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13, and it empowers us to forgive, to serve, and to uplift those around us. By actively choosing to embody love, we not only strengthen our faith but also create a ripple effect that can inspire others to do the same, turning our challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. So, let’s commit to loving fiercely and authentically, trusting that God will equip us to face whatever comes our way.

Bible References to ‘Hate’ in KJV:

Deuteronomy 7:9-10: 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.
10 but repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face.

Deuteronomy 12:30-31: 30 take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’
31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.

Deuteronomy 19:11-13: 11 But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities,
12 then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die.
13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you.

Deuteronomy 21:15-17: 15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved,
16 then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn,
17 but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

Deuteronomy 22:13-14: 13 “If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then hates her,
14 then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done an outrageous thing in Israel by whoring in her father’s house. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

2 Samuel 13:15-17: 15 Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!”
16 But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.
17 Then he called his young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.”

Psalm 5:4-6: 4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Psalm 11:5-7: 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Psalm 26:4-5: 4 I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

Psalm 31:6-7: 6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul.

Psalm 45:6-7: 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

Psalm 97:10-12: 10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Psalm 119:113-115: 113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

Psalm 139:21-22: 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

Proverbs 6:16-19: 16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 8:13-14: 13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.

Proverbs 10:12-13: 12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

Proverbs 13:5-6: 5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.

Proverbs 15:17-18: 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 26:24-26: 24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
25 When he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Ecclesiastes 3:8-9: 8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
9 What gain has the worker from his toil?

Isaiah 1:13-15: 13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.

Isaiah 61:8-9: 8 For I the Lord love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.

Jeremiah 12:7-8: 7 “I have forsaken my house;
I have abandoned my heritage;
I have given the beloved of my soul
into the hands of her enemies.
8 My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her.

Jeremiah 44:3-4: 3 Because of the evil that they committed, provoking me to anger, in that they went to make offerings and serve other gods that they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers.
4 Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’

Ezekiel 35:5-6: 5 Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment,
6 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you.

Hosea 9:15-17: 15 Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal;
there I began to hate them.
Because of the wickedness of their deeds
I will drive them out of my house.
I will love them no more;
all their princes are rebels.
16 Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they shall bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, I will put their beloved children to death.
17 My God will reject them because they have not listened to him; they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Amos 5:14-15: 14 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.
15 Hate evil, and love good,
and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Micah 3:1-2: 3 And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob
and rulers of the house of Israel!
Is it not for you to know justice?
2 you who hate the good and love the evil,
who tear the skin from off my people
and their flesh from off their bones,

Zechariah 8:16-17: 16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

Malachi 1:2-3: 1 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob”
3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.

Matthew 5:43-44: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 6:24-25: 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Matthew 10:21-22: 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:9-10: 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.”
10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

Luke 1:71-74: 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,

Luke 6:22-23: 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!”
23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Luke 6:27-28: 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Luke 14:25-27: 25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

John 3:19-21: 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

John 7:6-8: 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.”
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.

John 7:7-8: 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.

John 15:18-19: 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 15:23-25: 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

John 17:14-15: 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Romans 1:28-30: 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

Romans 7:14-15: 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Romans 9:10-13: 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—
12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Romans 12:9-10: Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:17-19: 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21: 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:31-32: 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 5:28-29: 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

Titus 3:3-5: 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Hebrews 1:8-9: 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”

Hebrews 12:5-6: 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

James 4:4-5: 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

1 John 2:9-11: 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.
10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:13-15: 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 4:19-21: 19 We love because he first loved us.
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Revelation 2:6-7: 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:14-16: But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.