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 · 51–100 of 143 · BSB
As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
This is My command to you: Love one another.
I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.”
When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea.
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,”
As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,”
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
But the one who loves God is known by God.
Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,
From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”
For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Text, tags and lexicon: STEPBible.org (Tyndale House), CC BY 4.0.