The most frequent verb for love in the Old Testament is ahev. It is used over 200 times and it refers to the relationship between two people. This could be in reference to a parent and a child or a husband and a wife, or even political loyalty. The Pentateuch, or the first 5 books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) uses ahev to describe the relationship between God and the people of Israel.

Ahev is found in the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which is the essence of the Jewish belief system: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” In a theological context, ahev is God’s character. He doesn’t love the Israelites because they earned it, He loves because He loves. God’s love isn’t out of duty, but it is an actual feeling that He has for His people. His ahev is also something that He chooses to do, something that He lavishes. The Israelites, therefore, through the shema, are called to respond to this love with ahev for God. Because we are not God, we show our love for God through worship, service, and obedience. God’s people are also supposed to emulate His ahev to the people around them (Leviticus 19:18).

Genesis 22:2; 24:67; 25:28; 25:28; 27:7; 27:9; 27:9; 27:14; 27:14; 29:18; 29:20; 29:30; 34:3; 37:3; 37:3; 37:4; 44:20

Exodus 20:6; 21:5

Leviticus 19:18; 19:18; 19:34; 19:34

Deuteronomy 4:37; 5:10; 6:5; 7:8; 7:9; 7:13; 10:12; 10:18; 10:18; 10:19; 15:16; 15:16; 21:15; 21:15; 21:16; 21:16; 23:6

Joshua 22:5; 23:11

Judges 5:31; 14:16; 16:4; 16:15

Ruth 4:15

1 Samuel 1:5; 1:23; 16:21; 18:1; 18:3; 18:16; 18:20; 18:22; 18:28; 20:17

2 Samuel 1:23; 12:24; 13:1; 13:4; 13:15; 13:21; 19:7

1 Kings 3:3; 5:15; 10:9; 11:1; 11:2

2 Chronicles 2:10; 9:8; 11:21; 19:2; 19:2; 20:7; 26:10

Nehemiah 1:5; 13:26; 13:26

Esther 2:17; 5:10; 5:14; 6:13

Job 19:19

Psalms 4:3; 5:12; 11:5; 11:7; 26:8; 31:24; 31:24; 33:5; 34:13; 37:28; 38:12; 40:17; 45:8; 47:5; 52:5; 52:6; 70:5; 78:68; 87:2; 88:18; 97:10; 99:4; 109:17; 116:1; 119; 119:47; 119:167; 122:6; 145:20; 146:8

Proverbs 1:22; 1:22; 3:12; 3:12; 4:6; 4:6; 8:17; 8:17; 8:21; 8:36; 9:8; 12:1; 13:24; 14:20; 15:9; 15:12; 16:13; 17:1; 17:19; 18:21; 18:24; 19:8; 20:13; 21:17; 22:11; 27:6; 29:3

Ecclesiastes 3:8; 3:8; 3:8; 5:9; 5:9; 9:9

Song of Songs 1:3; 1:4; 1:7; 1:7; 3:1; 3:2; 3:3; 3:4

Isaiah 41:8; 41:8; 43:4; 48:14; 56:6; 56:10; 57:8; 61:8; 66:10

Jeremiah 2:25; 5:3; 8:2; 14:10; 20:4; 20:6; 22:20; 22:20; 22:22; 30:14; 31:3

Lamentations 1:2; 1:19

Ezekiel 16:33; 16:36; 16:37; 16:37; 23:5; 23:9; 23:22

Daniel 9:4

Hosea 2:7; 2:7; 2:9; 2:9; 2:12; 2:14; 2:15; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1; 4:13; 9:1; 9:15; 10:11; 10:11; 11:1; 11:1; 12:8; 14:5; 14:5

Amos 4:5; 5:15; 5:15

Micah 3:2; 4:3; 6:8; 6:8

Zechariah 8:17; 8:17; 8:19; 8:19; 13:6

Malachi 1:2; 1:2; 2:11

Chesed is the most frequent noun for love in the Old Testament and occurs over 250 times in the Hebrew Bible. Despite its frequency, there is no clear equivalent translation. The King James Version translates chesed as “lovingkindness” while translations like the ESV interpret it as “steadfast love.” Chesed, or “loyal love,” refers to two people who have a previously formed relationship and the subsequent loyalty that comes from that relationship, but it also requires action. When “loyal love” is used in the context of two people, it can refer to loyalty that leads to action, like a promise. Chesed also refers to good deeds or acts of mercy. However in relation to God, chesed is our response to Him. God’s chesed “protects and sustains life at times offering protection from enemies” (The Lexham Bible Dictionary). God’s loyal love is related to His fidelity, patience, mercy, grace, forgiveness, covenantal faithfulness, and salvation. This covenantal love can be seen in the Abrahamic covenant (Deuteronomy 7:12), the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 15:13), and the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:15). When covenants with God’s people are enacted, it emulates the relationship between a father and his son, which is generally a reciprocal relationship. Therefore, God’s people enjoy His chesed when they maintain a deep, intimate relationship with Him.

Genesis 19:19; 20:13; 21:23; 24:12; 24:12; 24:14; 24:27; 24:49; 24:49; 32:11; 32:11; 39:21; 39:21; 40:14; 47:29

Exodus 15:13; 20:6; 34:6; 34:6; 34:7

Leviticus 20:17; 20:17

Numbers 14:18; 14:19

Deuteronomy 5:10; 7:9; 7:9; 7:12

Joshua 2:12; 2:14

Judges 1:24; 8:35

Ruth 1:8; 2:20; 3:10

1 Samuel 15:4; 15:6; 15:6; 15:22; 20:8; 20:14; 20:14; 20:14; 20:15

2 Samuel 2:5; 2:6; 3:8; 7:15; 9:1; 9:3; 9:3; 9:7; 10:2; 10:2; 15:20; 16:17; 16:17; 22:51

1 Kings 2:7; 3:6; 8:23; 20:31

1 Chronicles 16:34; 16:41; 17:13; 19:2; 19:2; 19:2

2 Chronicles 1:8; 5:13; 6:14; 6:42; 7:3; 7:6; 20:21; 24:22; 32:32; 35:26

Ezra 3:11; 7:28; 9:9

Nehemiah 1:5; 9:17; 9:32; 13:14; 13:14; 13:22

Esther 2:9; 2:17

Job 6:14; 10:12; 37:13

Psalms 5:8; 6:5; 13:6; 17:7; 21:8; 23:6; 25:6; 25:7; 25:10; 26:3; 31:8; 31:17; 31:22; 32:10; 33:5; 33:18; 33:22; 36:6; 36:8; 36:11; 36:11; 40:12; 41:11; 42:9; 48:10; 51:3; 52:3; 57:4; 57:11; 59:11; 59:17; 59:17; 61:8; 62:12; 63:4; 66:20; 69:14; 69:17; 77:9; 85:8; 85:11; 86:5; 86:13; 86:15; 86:15; 88:12; 89:2; 89:3; 89:15; 89:25; 89:29; 89:34; 90:14; 92:3; 94:18; 98:3; 100:5; 101:1; 103:4; 103:8; 103:11; 103:17; 106:1; 106:7; 106:45; 107:1; 107:8; 107:15; 107:21; 107:31; 107:43; 108:5; 109:12; 109:16; 109:21; 109:26; 115:1; 117:2; 118:1; 118:2; 118:3; 118:4; 118:29; 119:41; 119:64; 119:76; 119:88; 119:124; 119:149; 119:159; 130:7; 136:1; 138:2; 138:8; 141:5; 143:8; 143:12; 144:2; 145:8; 147:11

Proverbs 3:3; 11:17; 14:22; 14:34; 14:34; 16:6; 19:22; 20:6; 20:28; 20:28; 21:21; 31:26

Isaiah 16:5; 40:6; 54:8; 54:10; 55:3; 55:3; 57:1; 63:7; 63:7

Jeremiah 2:2; 9:23; 16:5; 31:3; 32:18; 33:11

Lamentations 3:22; 3:32

Daniel 1:9; 9:4

Hosea 2:21; 4:1; 6:4; 6:4; 6:6; 6:6; 10:12; 12:7

Joel 2:13

Jonah 2:9; 4:2

Micah 6:8; 7:18; 7:20; 7:20

Zechariah 7:9

1 Peter 1:24

This form of love is simply romantic love. It is used 61 times in the Old Testament in the King James Version. It is most used in the book of Song of Songs which is a group of poems that celebrates the romantic love between a man and woman. Blue Letter Bible defines dod as a noun meaning “beloved, love.” This can also be translated as the Greek, eros, which refers to physical intimacy. The New Testament writers did not use this word, but it was used in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament.

Leviticus 10:4; 10:4; 20:20; 20:20; 25:49

Numbers 36:11; 36:11

1 Samuel 10:14; 10:14; 10:15; 10:16; 10:16; 14:50

2 Kings 24:17

1 Chronicles 27:32

Esther 2:7; 2:15; 2:15

Proverbs 7:18; 7:18

Song of Songs 1:2; 1:2; 1:2; 1:4; 1:4; 1:13; 1:14; 1:16; 2:3; 2:8; 2:9; 2:10; 2:16; 2:17; 4:10; 4:10; 4:16; 5:1; 5:1; 5:1; 5:2; 5:4; 5:5; 5:6; 5:8; 5:9; 5:9; 5:9; 5:10; 5:16; 6:1; 6:2; 6:3; 7:10; 7:11; 7:12; 7:13; 8:5; 8:5; 8:14

Isaiah 5:1; 5:1

Jeremiah 32:7; 32:7; 32:8; 32:8; 32:9; 32:12

Ezekiel 16:8; 16:8; 23:17; 23:17

Amos 6:10; 6:10

Blue Letter Bible defines phileo as a verb meaning “to be a friend to.” It refers to the relationship between two people. Phileo and eros were used the most by Greek speakers, but the New Testament writers used phileo and agapao interchangeably. They are both “used in theological and non theological contexts and both are used in reference to positive objects (e.g., ‘Love your neighbor’) and negative objects (e.g., love of money or love or worldly things)” (Lexham Bible Dictionary). The difference between these two words is when agapao takes on its mourn form.

Kenneth L. McKay, specialist in Greek syntax, argues that the New Testament writers do, in fact, distinguish between these two terms. In John 21:15-20, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. The first two times, John indicates Jesus using agapao and uses phileo the third time: each time, Peter replies using phileo. McKay suggests that this linguistic difference signals a shift in meaning with the understanding that John, the gospel writer, “avoids using synonyms within a short context” (The Lexham Bible Dictionary).

Genesis 27:26

Proverbs 8:17; 8:17; 29:3

Isaiah 56:10

Matthew 5:44; 6:5; 10:37; 23:6; 26:48

Mark 14:44

Luke 20:46; 22:47

John 3:16; 5:20; 11:3; 11:3; 11:5; 11:36; 11:36; 12:25; 14:28; 15:19; 16:27; 16:27; 16:27; 20:2; 21:15; 21:15; 21:16; 21:16; 21:17; 21:17

1 Corinthians 16:22

Titus 3:15

Revelation 3:19; 22:15

Agape is brotherly love, affection, or benevolence. In a theological context, it always refers to a positive love (e.g., love your neighbor). It also can refer to God’s love (Luke 11:42; John 5:42; Romans 5:8; Jude 1:21), a person’s love for God (Revelation 2:4), or love for one another (Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:13). When agape is used in the form of an adjective, it denotes a “friend.”

Agape is the form of love that is used when Jesus gives us the greatest commandment: “... ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no greater commandment than these” (Mark 12:30-31). As Jesus spoke these words, He used the Aramaic form of “love,” but as the Greek writers translated the Scriptures, they defined the term agape through the life and teachings of Jesus Himself. Jesus’ idea of love suggests that there cannot truly be love if one does not love God or his neighbor: our love for others reflects our love for God and vice versa. Agape, therefore, is the action or choice to love by seeking the well-being of others without expecting anything in return. Jesus emphasizes loving our enemies because it is a reflection of the character of God the Father by dying on the cross for His enemies (Romans 5:8).

2 Samuel 13:15

Ecclesiastes 9:1; 9:6

Song of Songs 2:4; 2:5; 2:7; 3:5; 3:10; 5:8; 7:6; 8:4; 8:6; 8:7

Jeremiah 2:2

Matthew 24:12

Luke 11:42

John 5:42; 13:35; 15:9; 15:10; 15:13; 17:26; 17:26

Acts 2:42; 2:46; 20:7

Romans 5:8; 8:35; 8:39; 13:10; 14:15; 15:30

1 Corinthians 4:21; 11:17; 13:1; 13:2; 13:3; 13:4; 13:8; 13:13; 14:1; 16:24

2 Corinthians 2:4; 2:4; 2:8; 5:14; 8:7; 13:11; 13:13

Galatians 5:6

Ephesians 1:15; 2:4; 3:19; 4:15; 4:16

Philippians 1:17

Colossians 1:4; 1:4; 1:13

1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1:3; 5:8

2 Thessalonians 2:10

1 Timothy 1:5

Philemon 1:5; 1:7; 1:9; 1:14

Hebrews 6:10; 10:22; 10:23; 10:24; 10:24

1 Peter 4:8; 5:14

2 Peter 2:13

1 John 2:15; 3:1; 3:17; 4:7; 4:8; 4:12; 4:16; 4:17; 4:18; 5:3

Jude 1:12

Revelation 2:4; 2:19

John 3:16

We use the term “love” so often in our everyday lives. We love that show. We love our morning coffee. We love that store (hello Target and Costco fans). But that term for love doesn’t even scratch the surface of what love can really mean.

Have you ever SO loved something? Your emotion towards that thing or that person feels like a wave crashing over you that you cannot contain or control. And a love like this leads us to do something about it. A love like this leads us to give to it, doesn’t it?

Maybe for you, you SO loved your college that you GAVE financially to the alumni association. Maybe you SO loved your girlfriend that you GAVE her a ring. Or you SO love your church that you GIVE them donations (I’m only kind of kidding).

The most famous verse of the whole Bible, John 3:16, seems to have lost its power, and it’s our fault. But the greatest news of all history lies in this one verse: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

God didn’t love us like He loves Stranger Things, or the University of Georgia, or even the rest of His creation. He SO loves us. And this love led him to GIVE us a gift. He hasn’t loved us with empty promises- He proved it! He sent Jesus, His only Son, down from the perfection of Heaven to live here with us, to endure all the things we do, to live without flaw, and to suffer death on a cross as a substitute for us. Why? Is it because we deserve it? Is it because He needs us? No. It’s all because he SO loved us, that he couldn’t help but give us what we most desperately need.

God longs for us to want Him as much as He wants us. The Bible says God loved and He gave, “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This is for you. This is for me. This is for WHOEVER believes. And the invitation is this: life to the full here on earth and eternal paradise in Heaven.

Questions:

—Have you watered down the gospel?

—Do you believe that God’s gift is here and now, not just in eternity? What does it look like for you to live life to the full?

—Have you received the gift God has offered you freely?

Written by: Svenja Pfennig

Luke 15:1-7

How familiar are you with the feeling of being lost?

Maybe when you were younger, you experienced what it was like to be physically lost - you were in a crowd of people and lost sight of your parents. Maybe your phone died causing you to lose your GPS signal, and you found yourself lost on your way to an unknown destination.

Or maybe, you can familiarize yourself with the feeling of being in a lost season. Like you’ve lost touch with who you are. Like you no longer recognize who is staring back at you in the mirror. Maybe you are lost right now.

What’s so interesting about the parable of the lost sheep is not that the 1 sheep was lost. Sheep are notorious for losing their way. What is fascinating is that the shepherd would leave 99 sheep to go after the 1 lost one.

What we learn from this parable is that we worship a God who actively seeks out lost people. He does not wait for the lost one to stumble upon Him, He goes after the one who is on the edge, who cannot find their way in and of themselves.

This is how much God SO loved the lost.

This is how much God SO loves the one lost sheep in your life.

This is how much God SO loved you when you were the lost sheep.

What a joy to know that we follow a God who searches for us when we are lost!

If you feel like you are the lost sheep today, here's a reminder from today’s Scripture: The Shepherd is searching for you, and when He finds you, He will carry you to safety!

Friend, you can never be so far away from God that He stops His search for you. He has not lost sight of you. There is no distance you can wander that would deem you too far gone from Him. God is your Shepherd, and He never stops searching for you.

Questions:

—What does this parable teach you about God’s love?

—If you’ve experienced being the lost sheep, at what moment did you know you were lost? What was it like being found?

—How does this parable change the way you see the lost sheep in your circles of influence?

Written by: Baylee Dulmage

Romans 8:37-39

Have you ever thought of the love that God has for you as being victorious, powerful, or unstoppable?

Maybe when you think of the love of God, an image of God holding a lamb in the midst of a warm, heavenly glow – something straight out of a children’s Bible – comes to mind. While that kind of tenderness and intimacy is an aspect of God’s love, it is not the whole picture.

Romans 8 reminds us that, because God has conquered all things, we too can conquer all things. The Greek word that is used for the phrase “more than conquerors” is hypernikaō, and it means “to gain a surpassing victory.” This claim is found in the midst of Paul emphasizing that believers can look forward to the ultimate victory of Jesus: Jesus’ defeat over suffering and oppression, both earthly and supernatural. God’s plan for salvation ends in victory, and that victory is found in the love of Christ.

The love that God has for us, and therefore the love that we have the opportunity to share with others, is active, moving, and an insurmountable force. It is an image of a soldier on the battlefield, utterly destroying his enemy. It is an image of your favorite football team completely slaughtering their opponents, running touchdown after touchdown with no chance of a comeback for the other team. It is an image of a single mom doing whatever it takes to make ends meet. It is an image of a student breaking generational strongholds that grip their family and choosing the love of Jesus each and every day.

The victory of the love of God means that we don’t have to be gripped by the fear that chokes the world around us. Our heavenly Father holds us in His hand, the same hand that conquered death and the grave. As His beloved child, you have that same power: you are more than a conqueror, armed with the “sword of the Spirit” and protected by the “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:14-17).

Questions:

—Read Ephesians 6:10-17. What part of the armor of God do you need? How can you intentionally put on the armor of God?

—Do you believe that you are a conqueror and that you live in victory? Why or why not?

—What in your life do you need God’s love to defeat and conquer in Jesus’ name?

Written by: Morgan Brooks