Lexical Summary ahabah: Love Original Word: אַהֲבָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance love Feminine of 'ahab and meaning the same -- love. see HEBREW 'ahab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aheb Definition love (noun) NASB Translation love (28), lovesick* (2), lovingly (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַהֲבָה noun feminine love (= Infinitive of אהב q. v.) — absolute ׳א Proverbs 10:12 18t.; construct אַהֲבַת Jeremiah 2:2 3t.; suffix אַהֲבָתִי Psalm 109:4; Psalm 109:5; אַהֲבָֽתְךָ 2 Samuel 1:26; אַהֲבָתוֺ Isaiah 63:9; Zephaniah 3:17; אַהֲבָתָהּ Proverbs 5:19; אַהֲבָתָם Ecclesiastes 9:6 — love, especially Wisdom Literature & late. 1 human (to human object) absolute Ecclesiastes 9:1,6 (both "" שִׂנְאָה) so Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 15:17; compare Proverbs 27:5; see also Proverbs 17:9; of man toward man Psalm 109:4; Psalm 109:5; love for one's self (נַפְשׁוֺ) 1 Samuel 20:17; between man & woman Songs 2:4,5; Songs 5:8; Songs 8:6,7 (twice in verse); Proverbs 5:19 compare also 2 Samuel 1:26 (נָשִׁים ׳א); personified Songs 2:7; Songs 3:5; Songs 7:7; Songs 8:4; compare figurative use Songs 3:10; of mere sexual desire 2 Samuel 13:15; figurative of Jerusalem's love to ׳י Jeremiah 2:2 (כְּלוּלֹתַיִח ׳א), & of love of adulter. Jesus. Jeremiah 2:33. 2 God's love to his people Hosea 11:4 (׳עֲבֹתוֺת א) Jeremiah 31:3; Isaiah 63:9; Zephaniah 3:17. אהד (= אחד ? see Thes.) Topical Lexicon Overview The noun אַהֲבָה (ʼahavah) appears roughly forty times in the Old Testament and gathers within itself the full range of “love” in human experience—romantic attraction, covenant loyalty, family affection, devotion to God, and even misplaced or illicit desire. The term bridges Genesis to post-exilic writings, demonstrating that love is neither a late development nor a merely human sentiment but a reality rooted in God’s own character and purposes. Divine Covenant Love ʼAhavah most often reveals the gracious initiative of the LORD toward His people. Moses reminds Israel that “it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers” that He redeemed them from Egypt (Deuteronomy 7:8). The prophets echo this theme after centuries of rebellion: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion” (Jeremiah 31:3). Hosea dramatizes the same covenant love when the LORD commands the prophet to “love a woman beloved of her companion yet an adulteress, just as the LORD loves the children of Israel” (Hosea 3:1). ʼAhavah, then, discloses divine faithfulness that neither Israel’s sin nor exile can finally annul. Human Love for God Though the verb “to love” dominates calls to love God, the noun also portrays genuine devotion flowing back to Him. Ezra records that out of God’s “steadfast love” (Ezra 7:28) the writer found courage to reform worship. The mutuality of covenant emerges: God loves His people, and they love Him by obedience (Deuteronomy 10:12-13) and worship (Psalm 116:1, where the noun underlies the personal declaration, “I love the LORD”). Marriage and Romantic Affection The first occurrence of ʼahavah concerns Jacob’s seven years of labor for Rachel: they “seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her” (Genesis 29:20). Song of Solomon elevates marital love to poetic celebration: “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away” (Song of Solomon 8:7). While the book honors physical delight, it frames it within covenant commitment, foreshadowing the New Testament union of Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Family and Kinship Proper family affection enriches daily life: “Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred” (Proverbs 15:17). Parental love motivates discipline (Proverbs 13:24) and undergirds generational blessing (1 Kings 3:3 records Solomon’s early love for the LORD learned from David). Friendship and Loyal Commitment David’s lament for Jonathan employs ʼahavah to describe covenant friendship: “Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women” (2 Samuel 1:26). Such passages portray self-giving camaraderie that strengthens leaders, preserves kingdoms, and models Christ’s own statement, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). National and Royal Contexts Queen Sheba credits Israel’s stability to divine affection: “Because of the LORD’s everlasting love for Israel, He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness” (1 Kings 10:9). Royal ʼahavah thus carries ethical demands—kings are to reflect God’s love by safeguarding equity and covenant law. Love Distorted: Idolatry and Lust Scripture candidly records misdirected ʼahavah. Amnon’s obsession with Tamar, termed “a very great love,” becomes violent lust and tragedy (2 Samuel 13:15). Solomon’s “love” for foreign women (1 Kings 11:2) leads to idolatry and national division. The prophets indict Israel for loving wage and ritual more than the LORD (Hosea 9:1; Amos 4:5), underscoring that love severed from God’s holiness becomes destructive. Wisdom Literature and Ethical Preference Ecclesiastes contrasts ʼahavah with envy (Ecclesiastes 9:6), noting that in the grave human passions cease, urging readers to fear God now. Proverbs ties love to righteousness and truth (Proverbs 20:28), teaching that covenant love and faithfulness guard kings and secure their thrones. Prophetic and Messianic Trajectory Isaiah envisions a restored Zion called “Sought After, a city not forsaken” (Isaiah 62:12), grounded in the LORD’s delighted love. In the Servant Songs, love motivates redemptive suffering (Isaiah 53), anticipating the Messianic fulfillment in Jesus Christ, in whom divine ʼahavah reaches its climax. Continuity with New Testament Agapē The Septuagint frequently renders ʼahavah with agapē, the primary New Testament word for God’s self-giving love (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). The continuity shows that the gospel does not introduce a new ethic but reveals the fulfillment of long-promised covenant love. Paul quotes the Shema to affirm the comprehensive duty: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Romans 13:9), grounding Christian ethics in the same covenant fabric. Ministry and Discipleship Implications 1. Worship: Recognizing God’s “everlasting love” nurtures assurance and gratitude in corporate praise. Representative Occurrences of אַהֲבָה • Genesis 29:20 – Jacob’s service for Rachel Summary Throughout the Old Testament, ʼahavah intertwines divine initiative and human response. Whether tender or jealous, steadfast or tragically misdirected, love shapes covenant history, personal relationships, wisdom ethics, and prophetic hope—all culminating in the unfailing love revealed in Jesus Christ and echoed in the church’s life and mission. Forms and Transliterations אַהֲבַ֖ת אַהֲבַ֥ת אַהֲבָ֑ה אַהֲבָ֔ה אַהֲבָ֖ה אַהֲבָ֣ה אַהֲבָֽה׃ אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙ אַהֲבָתִ֥י אַהֲבָתִֽי׃ אַהֲבָתָ֔ם אַהֲבָתָ֧ם אהבה אהבה׃ אהבת אהבתי אהבתי׃ אהבתך אהבתם בְּ֝אַהֲבָתָ֗הּ בְּאַ֣הֲבָת֔וֹ בְּאַהֲבַ֤ת בְּאַהֲבַ֨ת בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ בָּאַהֲבָ֔ה באהבה באהבת באהבתה באהבתו הָֽאַהֲבָ֔ה הָאַהֲבָ֖ה האהבה וְאַ֣הֲבַת וְאַהֲבַ֤ת וְאַהֲבָה־ ואהבה־ ואהבת כְּאַהֲבַ֤ת כאהבת לְאַהֲבָֽה׃ לאהבה׃ מֵֽאַהֲבַ֨ת מֵֽאַהֲבָ֥ה מֵאַהֲבַ֖ת מֵאַהֲבָ֖ה מאהבה מאהבת ’a·hă·ḇā·ṯām ’a·hă·ḇā·ṯə·ḵā ’a·hă·ḇā·ṯî ’a·hă·ḇāh ’a·hă·ḇaṯ ’ahăḇāh ’ahăḇaṯ ’ahăḇāṯām ’ahăḇāṯəḵā ’ahăḇāṯî ahaVah ahaVat ahavaTam ahavateCha ahavaTi bā’ahăḇāh bā·’a·hă·ḇāh baahaVah bə’ahăḇaṯ bə’ahăḇāṯāh bə’ahăḇāṯōw bə·’a·hă·ḇā·ṯāh bə·’a·hă·ḇā·ṯōw bə·’a·hă·ḇaṯ beahaVat beahavaTah beahavaTo hā’ahăḇāh hā·’a·hă·ḇāh haahaVah kə’ahăḇaṯ kə·’a·hă·ḇaṯ keahaVat lə’ahăḇāh lə·’a·hă·ḇāh leahaVah mê’ahăḇāh mê’ahăḇaṯ mê·’a·hă·ḇāh mê·’a·hă·ḇaṯ meahaVah meahaVat veahavah veahaVat wə’ahăḇāh- wə’ahăḇaṯ wə·’a·hă·ḇāh- wə·’a·hă·ḇaṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 7:8 HEB: כִּי֩ מֵֽאַהֲבַ֨ת יְהוָ֜ה אֶתְכֶ֗ם KJV: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep INT: because loved the LORD and kept 1 Samuel 18:3 1 Samuel 20:17 1 Samuel 20:17 2 Samuel 1:26 2 Samuel 1:26 2 Samuel 13:15 1 Kings 10:9 1 Kings 11:2 2 Chronicles 2:11 2 Chronicles 9:8 Psalm 109:4 Psalm 109:5 Proverbs 5:19 Proverbs 10:12 Proverbs 15:17 Proverbs 17:9 Proverbs 27:5 Ecclesiastes 9:1 Ecclesiastes 9:6 Songs 2:4 Songs 2:5 Songs 2:7 Songs 3:5 Songs 3:10 40 Occurrences |
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