Murder: Hatred Is
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, murder is not merely the unlawful taking of a human life but is deeply rooted in the condition of the heart, specifically in hatred. The Bible presents murder as a grave sin, one that is condemned from the earliest chapters of Scripture. The act of murder is first introduced in Genesis 4 with the account of Cain and Abel, where Cain's jealousy and hatred towards his brother Abel culminate in the first murder. This narrative sets the stage for understanding murder as an outward manifestation of inner sin.

The Sixth Commandment, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13), underscores the sanctity of human life, which is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This commandment is reiterated in Deuteronomy 5:17, emphasizing its foundational role in the moral law given to Israel. The prohibition against murder is not limited to the physical act but extends to the attitudes and intentions of the heart.

Jesus Christ, in His Sermon on the Mount, expands on the traditional understanding of murder by addressing the root cause—hatred. In Matthew 5:21-22 , He states, "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." Here, Jesus equates unjust anger and hatred with murder, highlighting that sin begins in the heart long before it manifests in action.

The Apostle John further elaborates on this concept in his first epistle. In 1 John 3:15 , he writes, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer." This passage reinforces the idea that hatred is tantamount to murder in the eyes of God, as it reflects a heart that is not aligned with His love and righteousness.

The biblical narrative consistently portrays hatred as a destructive force that leads to murder. In the account of Joseph and his brothers, their hatred and envy nearly result in Joseph's death (Genesis 37:18-20). Similarly, King Saul's jealousy and hatred towards David drive him to multiple attempts on David's life (1 Samuel 18:10-11; 19:1).

The New Testament calls believers to a higher standard, one that transcends mere adherence to the law. Romans 13:9 encapsulates this by stating, "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.'" Love, therefore, is the antidote to hatred and the fulfillment of the law.

In summary, the Bible presents murder as a sin that originates in the heart through hatred. It is not only the physical act that is condemned but also the underlying emotions and intentions that lead to such actions. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles call for a transformation of the heart, urging believers to replace hatred with love, thereby upholding the sanctity of life as ordained by God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 John 3:15
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether Hatred of Our Neighbor is the Most Grievous Sin against ...
... Now there are sins by which a man hurts his neighbor more than by hatred, eg theft,
murder and adultery. Therefore hatred is not the most grievous sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether hatred of our neighbor.htm

Whether the Reason for Divorce was Hatred for the Wife?
... Now the proximate cause of murder is hatred: wherefore the proximate cause of divorce
was hatred. But hatred proceeds, like love, from a cause. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the reason for divorce.htm

1 John iii. 11, 12
... Hatred too, he apprehends at the culminating point of manifestation, since out of
hatred proceeds murder; and accordingly he names, as the representative of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john iii 11 12.htm

All Need Baptism.
... And the will of the righteous One is that you do no wrong. But wrong is murder,
hatred, envy, and such like; and of these there are many forms. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xxvii all need baptism.htm

Fulfilling of the Law in the Higher Sense. --Particular Examples ...
... The passion which, when full-blown, causes murder, is punished in the bud ... members
of the Theocratic community, and, therefore, the law implied "hatred" of the ...
/.../section 155 fulfilling of the.htm

How Joseph was Thus Sold by his Brethren into Egypt, by Reason of ...
... Was Thus Sold By His Brethren Into Egypt, By Reason Of Their Hatred To Him ... fact,
all sorts of punishments would overtake them from God for this murder of their ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 how joseph was.htm

Whether Anger is the Most Grievous Sin?
... Reply to Objection 3: Murder results from hatred and envy no less than from anger:
yet anger is less grievous, inasmuch as it considers the aspect of justice ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether anger is the most.htm

1 John iii. 12-15
... from the standpoint of that highest tribunal which takes cognizance of the intention,
to be applied to the germ of murder already existing in hatred,"in the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john iii 15-dec.htm

Whether Wife-Murder is an Impediment to Marriage?
... I answer that, By the Church's decree wife-murder is an impediment to marriage. ... kills
his wife on account of adultery or even through hatred; nevertheless if ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether wife-murder is an impediment.htm

But this Commandment Seems Only to Speak of Murder?
... In forbidding murder, God teaches us, that he abhors the causes thereof, such as
envy, [305] hatred, [306] anger, [307] and desire of revenge; and that he ...
/.../various/the heidelberg catechism /question 106 but this commandment.htm

Resources
Does God killing people make Him a murderer? | GotQuestions.org

Why should I not have an abortion? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Jesus warn against saying the word 'raca' in Matthew 5:22? | GotQuestions.org

Murder: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Cannibalism

Cannibalism: General Scriptures Concerning

Murder

Murder is a Work for the Flesh

Murder of Saints, Specially Avenged

Murder: Abimelech

Murder: Absalom

Murder: Adrammelech

Murder: Ahab

Murder: Amalekite

Murder: Baasha

Murder: Barabbas

Murder: Cain

Murder: Characteristic of the Devil

Murder: Chief Priests

Murder: Comes from the Heart

Murder: Connected With Idolatry

Murder: Cries for Vengeance

Murder: David

Murder: Defiles The: Hands

Murder: Defiles The: Land

Murder: Defiles The: Person and Garments

Murder: Described As Killing by a Hand Weapon of Wood

Murder: Described As Killing by an Instrument of Iron

Murder: Described As Killing by Lying in Wait

Murder: Described As Killing by the Blow of a Stone

Murder: Described As Killing with Premeditation

Murder: Described As Killing: from Hatred

Murder: Early Introduction of

Murder: Elders of Jezreel

Murder: Esau

Murder: Excludes from Heaven

Murder: Explained by Christ

Murder: Forbidden by Mosaic Law

Murder: God: Abominates

Murder: God: Curses Those Guilty of

Murder: God: Makes Inquisition For

Murder: God: Rejects the Prayers of Those Guilty of

Murder: God: Requires Blood For

Murder: God: Will Avenge

Murder: Hatred Is

Murder: Hazael

Murder: Herodias and Her Daughter

Murder: Imputed to the Nearest City when the Murderer Was Unknown

Murder: Ishmael

Murder: Jews

Murder: Jezebel

Murder: Joab

Murder: Joseph's Brethren

Murder: Judas

Murder: Killing a Thief in the Day, Counted As

Murder: Manasseh

Murder: Men of Shechem

Murder: Mode of Clearing Those Suspected of

Murder: Not Concealed from God

Murder: Often Committed by Night

Murder: People of Gilead

Murder: Persons Guilty of Fearful and Cowardly

Murder: Persons Guilty of Flee from God's Presence

Murder: Persons Guilty of had No Protection from Altars

Murder: Persons Guilty of not Protected in Refuge Cities

Murder: Persons Guilty of not to be Pitied or Spared

Murder: Persons Guilty of Wanderers and Vagabonds

Murder: Pharaoh

Murder: Princes of Israel

Murder: Punishment For: Death

Murder: Punishment For: Forbidden

Murder: Punishment For: Inflicted by the Nearest of Kin

Murder: Punishment For: Not to be Commuted

Murder: Punishment For: The Curse of God

Murder: Punishment of

Murder: Punishment of, not Commuted Under the Law

Murder: Rechab

Murder: Represented As a Sin Crying to Heaven

Murder: Saints: Deprecate the Guilt of

Murder: Saints: should Warn Others Against

Murder: Saints: Specially Warned Against

Murder: The Herods

Murder: The Jews often Guilty of

Murder: The Law Made to Restrain

Murder: The Wicked: Devise

Murder: The Wicked: Encourage Others to Commit

Murder: The Wicked: Filled With

Murder: The Wicked: Have Hands Full of

Murder: The Wicked: Intent On

Murder: The Wicked: Lie in Wait to Commit

Murder: The Wicked: Perpetrate

Murder: The Wicked: Swift to Commit

Murder: To be Proved by Two Witnesses at Least

Murder: Why Forbidden by God

Murder: Zimri

Patricide of Sennacherib

Related Terms

Commit (142 Occurrences)

Goel

Barabbas (10 Occurrences)

Steal (29 Occurrences)

Homicide (1 Occurrence)

Ones (687 Occurrences)

Insurrection (8 Occurrences)

Ish-bosheth (14 Occurrences)

Infanticide

Ishbosheth (13 Occurrences)

Elah (17 Occurrences)

Murderous (2 Occurrences)

Blood (435 Occurrences)

Massacre (1 Occurrence)

Innocents (2 Occurrences)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

Ahab (85 Occurrences)

Cain (18 Occurrences)

Joab (128 Occurrences)

Lawbreaker (3 Occurrences)

Liable (7 Occurrences)

Geshur (11 Occurrences)

Transgressor (9 Occurrences)

Tumult (56 Occurrences)

Riot (14 Occurrences)

Deceit (160 Occurrences)

Danger (118 Occurrences)

Murders (7 Occurrences)

Murderer (17 Occurrences)

Magistrate (9 Occurrences)

Manslayer (20 Occurrences)

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)

Commands (216 Occurrences)

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Ammihud (10 Occurrences)

Athaliah (17 Occurrences)

Answerable (7 Occurrences)

And'whoever (1 Occurrence)

Assassination (1 Occurrence)

Anyone (514 Occurrences)

Ancients (17 Occurrences)

Assassinate (3 Occurrences)

Sedition (8 Occurrences)

Suicide

Refuge (111 Occurrences)

Testimony (175 Occurrences)

Evidence (41 Occurrences)

Honor (240 Occurrences)

Ten (234 Occurrences)

Murdered (25 Occurrences)

Commandments (181 Occurrences)

Committing (30 Occurrences)

Mayest (240 Occurrences)

Thrown (126 Occurrences)

Bloodshed (43 Occurrences)

Court (172 Occurrences)

Prison (131 Occurrences)

Crimes (22 Occurrences)

Benhadad (24 Occurrences)

Lie (291 Occurrences)

Giving (611 Occurrences)

Atonement (112 Occurrences)

Lying (203 Occurrences)

Judgment (430 Occurrences)

Crime (45 Occurrences)

Asking (111 Occurrences)

Stephen (13 Occurrences)

Quarrelsome (9 Occurrences)

Zealous (40 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Zechariah (55 Occurrences)

Kinsman (29 Occurrences)

Nod (2 Occurrences)

Namely (81 Occurrences)

Nadabath

Unrighteousness (57 Occurrences)

Uprising (4 Occurrences)

Offer (403 Occurrences)

Overflowed (14 Occurrences)

Murder: God: Will Avenge
Top of Page
Top of Page