Hatred is a destructive force that blinds people to love, mercy, and forgiveness. It fills the heart with bitterness and causes division among people. The Bible teaches that hatred leads to sin and keeps us away from God’s love. A heart full of hatred cannot truly follow Christ.
As Christians, we are called to love one another, even our enemies. Jesus showed us the perfect example by loving and forgiving those who hurt Him. Love is a sign that we belong to God and follow His ways. Without love, our faith is empty and meaningless.
The Bible warns against harbouring hatred in our hearts. Hatred can lead to anger, violence, and destruction. Instead, God calls us to forgive, be kind, and show mercy. A heart filled with love reflects God’s character and brings peace.
These Bible verses that teach about the dangers of hatred. May these words encourage us to reject hatred and choose love, just as Christ commanded.
Preachers Quotes
“Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” – Adrian Rogers
“You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies.” – Corrie Ten Boom
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” – Augustine of Hippo
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
You might also be interested in: Bible verses about Murdering The Innocent
Bible Verses on Hatred Towards Others
Leviticus 19:17 – Hatred against a brother is forbidden.
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.” – Leviticus 19:17
Proverbs 10:12 – Love covers all sins.
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” – Proverbs 10:12
Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
Proverbs 26:24 – Hatred disguises itself with deceit.
“He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself.” – Proverbs 26:24
Matthew 5:43-44 – Love your enemies.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” – Matthew 5:43-44
Matthew 6:14-15 – Forgive so you may be forgiven.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” – Matthew 6:14-15
Mark 11:25 – Forgive others before you pray.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” – Mark 11:25
Luke 6:27-28 – Do good to those who hate you.
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” – Luke 6:27-28
John 13:34-35 – A new commandment to love one another.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35
Romans 12:9 – Hate what is evil.
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” – Romans 12:9
Romans 12:17-19 – Do not repay evil for evil.
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” – Romans 12:17-19
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love is not provoked.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Galatians 5:19-21 – Hatred is a work of the flesh.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21
Colossians 3:8 – Put away hatred.
“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” – Colossians 3:8
1 John 2:9 – Hating your brother is walking in darkness.
“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.” – 1 John 2:9
1 John 3:15 – Hatred is as murder.
“Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” – 1 John 3:15
1 John 4:20 – You cannot love God and hate your brother.
“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” – 1 John 4:20
Psalm 34:13-14 – Turn from evil and seek peace.
“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” – Psalm 34:13-14
Psalm 97:10 – Hate evil and love the Lord.
“You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 97:10
Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” – Proverbs 8:13
Proverbs 14:21 – He who despises his neighbor sins.
“He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.” – Proverbs 14:21
Proverbs 24:17 – Do not rejoice when your enemy falls.
“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.” – Proverbs 24:17
Proverbs 25:21-22 – Feed your enemy.
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” – Proverbs 25:21-22
Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry.
“Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.” – Ecclesiastes 7:9
Isaiah 1:17 – Learn to do good and seek justice.
“Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” – Isaiah 1:17
Micah 6:8 – Love mercy and walk humbly with God.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8
Zechariah 8:17 – Do not think evil in your heart.
“Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.” – Zechariah 8:17
Matthew 22:37-39 – Love your neighbor as yourself.
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39
Luke 10:27 – Love your neighbor.
“So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” – Luke 10:27
John 15:12 – Love one another as Jesus loved us.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” – John 15:12
Romans 13:10 – Love does no harm.
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” – Romans 13:10
1 Corinthians 16:14 – Let all you do be done with love.
“Let all that you do be done with love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
Galatians 6:10 – Do good to all.
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:10
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Put away bitterness and be kind.
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
Philippians 2:3-4 – Look out for the interests of others.
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:3-4
Colossians 3:13 – Forgive as Christ forgave you.
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” – Colossians 3:13
1 Thessalonians 5:15 – Do not repay evil for evil.
“See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:15
2 Timothy 2:24-25 – A servant of the Lord must not quarrel.
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:24-25
Hebrews 12:14 – Pursue peace with all.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:14
James 1:19-20 – Be slow to anger.
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” – James 1:19-20
If you’re interested, here’s another article on: Bible verses about Fake Friends
What does the Bible say about Hatred Towards Others
The Bible teaches that hatred towards others is wrong. God wants people to love one another and live in peace. Hatred brings pain, division, and destruction. It comes from a sinful heart and leads to evil actions. The Bible warns against hatred and calls believers to show love instead.
In 1 John 3:15, the Bible says, “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” This verse shows that hatred is a serious sin. It is like murder in God’s eyes because it comes from the same evil heart that leads to killing. A person who hates cannot have the love of God in them.
Jesus taught about love in Matthew 5:43-44: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus showed a different way of living. Instead of hating, He commanded love, even for enemies. This is not easy, but with God’s help, it is possible. Love is more powerful than hatred.
Hatred leads to destruction. In Proverbs 10:12, the Bible says, “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” When people hate, they fight and cause problems. But love brings peace and healing. God wants His children to be peacemakers, not people who spread hate.
God Himself is love. In 1 John 4:20, it says, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” This verse teaches that love for others shows our love for God. If someone hates another person, their love for God is not real.
Hatred comes from sin, and the devil uses it to destroy lives. But Jesus came to set people free from sin. In Ephesians 4:31-32, the Bible says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” God wants people to forgive instead of hate. When we forgive, we show the love of Christ.
The Bible teaches that hatred has no place in the life of a believer. God calls His people to love, forgive, and live in peace. Love is the mark of a true Christian, and through love, hearts can be changed.