Word study · Greek
ἀγαπάω
agapaōG0025to love
Used 143 times in the tagged text.
What it means
- Of human affection, to men
- Of divine love;
Full dictionary entry (technical)
- ἀγαπάω, -ῶ,
- [in LXX chiefly for אהב ;]
- to love, to feel and exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person, to prize and delight in a thing.
- 1. Of human affection, to men: τ. πλησίον, Mat.5:43; τ. ἐχθρούς, ib. 44; to Christ, Jhn.8:42; to God, Mat.22:37; with accusative of thing(s), Luk.11:43, Jhn.12:43, Eph.5:25, II Tim 4:8, 10, Heb.1:9, 1Pe.2:17, 3:10, 2Pe.2:15, 1Jn.2:15, Rev.12:11.
- 2. Of divine love;
- (a) God's love: to men, Rom.8:37; to Christ, Jhn.3:35;
- (b) Christ's love: to men, Mrk.10:21; to God, Jhn.14:31; with cogn. accusative, Jhn.17:26, Eph.2:4.
- SYN.: φιλέω. From its supposed etymology (Thayer, LS; but see also Boisacq) ἀ. is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem (diligo), as distinct from that expressed by φιλέω (amo), spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning. If this distinction holds, ἀ. is fitly used in NT of Christian love to God and man, the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will, and which, therefore, unlike that feeling which is instinctive and unreasoned, can be commanded as a duty. (Cf. ἀγάπη, and v. Tr., Syn. §xii; Cremer, 9, 592; and esp. MM, VGT, see word) (AS)
Same idea, other words · Love
Hebrew uses one common word for love; Greek has several. Agape is the word the New Testament chooses most for God's love and ours, without making it a lesser or higher love than other words in every verse.
- אָהֵבahav to love: loverto love, of people and of GodH0157
- ἀγαπάωagapaō to loveto love (verb)G0025
- ἀγάπηagapē lovelove (noun), the New Testament's favoriteG0026
- φιλέωphileō to loveto love as a friend, to be fond ofG5368
- φιλαδελφίαphiladelphia brotherly lovebrotherly love, love of the family of faithG5360
Where it appears
- Matthew8
- Mark5
- Luke13
- John37
- Romans8
- 1 Corinthians2
- 2 Corinthians4
- Galatians2
- Ephesians10
- Colossians2
- 1 Thessalonians2
- 2 Thessalonians2
- 2 Timothy2
- Hebrews2
- James3
- 1 Peter4
- 2 Peter1
- 1 John28
- 2 John2
- 3 John1
- Jude1
- Revelation4
Every use · 1–50 of 143 · BSB
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,
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
No one can serve two masters: 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 both God and money.
honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”
When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”
Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and money.”
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.
It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.
One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me.
You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.
But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.
As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.
Text, tags and lexicon: STEPBible.org (Tyndale House), CC BY 4.0.