God´s Love
God´s Love
LOVE A feeling of deep affection. A central theme in Scripture and Christian theology and ethics. Defines our relationship with God and dictates how we should treat others.
Love in the Old Testament
General Terms
Old Testament writers use several terms related to love or a beloved person:
• דּוֹד (dod), which means “uncle” (e.g., Lev 10:4; 1 Sam 10:14) or “beloved” when used between a man and a woman (Song 1:13, 14)
• חָשַׁק (chashaq), which means “to desire” and can occur in both theological and nontheological contexts; generally refers to one’s desire for a woman (Deut 21:11), but can also refer to God (Ps 91:14)
• רַעְיָה (ra'yah), which means “beloved” or “lover” and is used interchangeably with דּוֹד (dod) in the Song of Solomon
• יָדִיד (yadid), which means “beloved” when used as a noun (Jer 11:15).
The most frequent verb for “love” (אָהֵב, ahev) in the Old Testament occurs over 200 times in both its noun and verb forms. It refers to the relationship between two people, either a parent and a child (Gen 22:2; 25:28; 37:3) or a husband and a wife (Gen 24:67; 29:18). The Pentateuch also uses the word to describe the relationship between God and the people of Israel. Deuteronomy 6:5 commands the people to “love (אָהֵב, ahev) the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut 6:5, compare Deut 10:12; 30:6). The nation manifests their love for God by following the law (Deut 11:1, 13, 22; 19:9; 30:16, 20).