The term "lovest" is an archaic form of the verb "love," often found in older translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version. It is the second person singular form, used when addressing one person directly. In the context of the Bible, "lovest" is frequently used to express the deep, covenantal love that God commands His people to have for Him and for one another.

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Divine Commandment of Love: The concept of love is central to the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. In Deuteronomy 6:5, the commandment to love God is foundational: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This commandment is reiterated by Jesus in the New Testament as the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).

2. Love for God: The Bible emphasizes the importance of loving God wholeheartedly. In John 21:15, Jesus asks Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?" . The use of "lovest" in older translations highlights the personal and direct nature of this inquiry, underscoring the intimate relationship between the believer and Christ.

3. Love for Others: The command to love one's neighbor is equally significant. Leviticus 19:18 instructs, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." This command is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches that love for others is akin to love for God (Mark 12:31).

4. The Nature of Love: The Bible describes love as patient, kind, and enduring. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul provides a detailed description of love's attributes, which serve as a guide for Christian conduct: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud" .

5. God's Love for Humanity: The ultimate demonstration of love is found in God's love for humanity, as expressed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. John 3:16 declares, "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" . This sacrificial love serves as the model for Christian love.

6. Love as Evidence of Faith: In 1 John 4:7-8, the apostle John emphasizes that love is evidence of a true relationship with God: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" .

Theological Implications

The use of "lovest" in biblical texts underscores the personal and relational aspect of love as a divine command. It reflects the expectation that believers will engage in a loving relationship with God and others, characterized by selflessness, sacrifice, and fidelity. This love is not merely an emotion but an active commitment to live according to God's will, demonstrating His love through actions and attitudes.

In summary, "lovest" captures the essence of the biblical mandate to love God and others, serving as a timeless reminder of the centrality of love in the Christian faith.

'Lovest Thou Me?'
... 'LOVEST THOU ME?'. 'Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest
thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/lovest thou me.htm

Lovest Thou Me?
... Lovest Thou Me? A Sermon (No.117). ... At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark. "Jesus saith
to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/lovest thou me.htm

"Lovest Thou Me? --John, xxi. 15-17.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CXCI. "Lovest thou Me?"John, xxi. 15-17. ... James Montgomery. "Lovest
thou Me?"John, xxi.15-17. "Lovest thou Me?" I hear my Saviour say; ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn cxci lovest thou mejohn.htm

Lovest Thou Me? Jn 21:16
... JOHN Hymn 119 Lovest thou me? Jn 21:16. John Newton 7,7,7,7. Lovest thou me? Jn
21:16. 'Tis a point I long to know,. Oft it causes anxious thought; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 119 lovest thou me.htm

Lovest Thou Me? Jn 21:16
... JOHN Hymn 118 Lovest thou me? Jn 21:16. William Cowper 7,7,7,7. Lovest thou me?
Jn 21:16. Hark, my soul! it is the LORD; 'Tis thy Savior, hear his word; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 118 lovest thou me.htm

School Life 367. Father in Heaven, who Lovest All
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES School Life 367. Father in heaven, who lovest all. LM ... Horatio
Parker, 1901. Rudyard Kipling, 1906. Father in heaven, who lovest all,. ...
/.../school life 367 father in.htm

On the Same Words of the Gospel of John. xxi. 15, "Simon, Son of ...
... Sermon XCVII. On the same words of the Gospel of John. xxi. 15, "Simon, son
of John, lovest thou me more than these?" etc. [CXLVII. Ben.] ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xcvii on the same.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John. xxi. 16, "Simon, Son of John ...
... xxi. 16, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?" etc. [CXLVI. Ben.] On the words of
the Gospel, John 21:16, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?" etc. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xcvi on the words.htm

Love of God and Man
... And then thou wilt find that God is a jealous God, and will take from thee what
thou lovest, because He will not have His honour given to another. ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xvii love of god.htm

After the Resurrection Day.
... the dead. So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these?". He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his last week/after the resurrection day.htm

Lovest (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lovest (13 Occurrences). ... John 11:3 Therefore his sisters
sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. ...
/l/lovest.htm - 10k

Jonas (11 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He ...
/j/jonas.htm - 12k

Attached (31 Occurrences)
... (DBY). John 21:15 When therefore they had dined, Jesus says to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? ...
/a/attached.htm - 15k

Yea (867 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV). John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He ...
/y/yea.htm - 37k

Hatest (8 Occurrences)
... which I also hate. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). 2 Samuel 19:6 In that thou lovest thine
enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared ...
/h/hatest.htm - 8k

Fellow (166 Occurrences)
... (KJV NIV). Mark 12:31 "The second is this: 'Thou shalt love thy fellow man as thou
lovest thyself.' "Other Commandment greater than these there is none." (WEY). ...
/f/fellow.htm - 42k

Love (703 Occurrences)
... When our Lord says, "Lovest thou me?" he uses the Greek word agapas; and when Simon
answers, he uses the Greek word philo, ie, "I love." This is the usage in ...
/l/love.htm - 65k

Love-sick (2 Occurrences)
Love-sick. Lovesick, Love-sick. Lovest . Noah Webster's Dictionary 1 ... love.
(See JPS). Lovesick, Love-sick. Lovest . Reference Bible.
/l/love-sick.htm - 7k

Laborest (1 Occurrence)
... Ecclesiastes 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy
life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity ...
/l/laborest.htm - 6k

Labourest (1 Occurrence)
... Ecclesiastes 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy
life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity ...
/l/labourest.htm - 6k

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