65 Heartwarming Bible Verses for Love
Love means different things to different people. But from the Bible’s perspective, it is an earnest, genuine, selfless, and godly concern for the welfare of others. And we will endeavor to explore several Bible verses for love that clearly express this thought in this article.
Let’s face reality. We live in a world full of hatred, revenge, and strife. However, God doesn’t wish that we conform to that ungodly practice. Instead, He wants us to radiate His love so brightly that men will see our good works and glorify Him.
God is love, and love is His way. If we are truly born of Him, we then must be loving. As we will see in the short Bible verses for love below, every Christian – yourself included – is called to bear God’s love everywhere and to everyone.
Our Lord Jesus was and still is a perfect example of love. He loved everyone so dearly that even while He was in pain on the cross, He prayed to the Father to forgive His killers. And thank God, since we have His nature in us, we can trust the Holy Spirit to enable us to exhibit the same virtue today.
But that won’t just fall on us like ripe cherries fall from the tree. We need to renew our minds with God’s Word, particularly with verses about love.
We encourage you to reflect on the powerful love Bible verses below with an open mind and share them with your loved ones so they can be blessed, too.
Bible Verses About Love for God
Like our earthly parents, God desires to have an intimate love relationship with us. But this will only happen as we take time to feed on His Word and obey Him. Begin your journey into cultivating a fresh and vibrant love for God by reflecting on these spirit-inspired love scriptures in the Bible.
I John 5:3
For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
Deuteronomy 11:1
Therefore, you shall love Yahweh, your God, and keep his instructions, his statutes, his ordinances, and his commandments always.
John 14:23-24
Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that Yahweh your God himself is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness to a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments.
Matthew 22:37
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Psalm 97:10
You who love Yahweh hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one. You shall love Yahweh, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
Mark 12:30
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.
Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God for those who are called according to his purpose.
I Corinthians 8:3
But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.
Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
I John 2:5-6
But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him: 6 he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.
Scriptures About Love for Family
Families are a crucial part of God’s plan for our lives. God designed them as our top go-to place for support, encouragement, and love. Learn how to maintain strong affection with your parents, siblings, relatives, and every other family member from these inspiring Bible scriptures on love.
James 4:11 (NKJV)
Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
I John 4:20-21
If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him that he who loves God should also love his brother.
Psalm 133:1
See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
Ephesians 6:4
You fathers don’t provoke your children to wrath but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Proverbs 10:1
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Isaiah 66:13
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.
Colossians 3:21
Fathers, don’t provoke your children so that they won’t be discouraged.
I Timothy 5:8
But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Acts 10:1-2
Now, there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people and always prayed to God.
Colossians 3:13-14
Bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any, even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
Proverbs 23:15
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
Psalm 107:13
Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Bible Verses About Romantic Love
Every marriage needs romance to thrive. You cannot build a healthy love relationship without a deep level of intimacy, companionship, and affection. Below are some romantic Bible verses that can help you create a strong emotional connection with your partner.
Ephesians 5:25-28
Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect. Even so, husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
Songs of Solomon 4:9-10
You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck. How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, the fragrance of your perfumes, than all kinds of spices!
I Peter 3:7
You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
I Corinthians 7:3-5
Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband. The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife. Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Proverbs 5:18-19
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
Genesis 29:10-12
When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban, his mother’s brother. Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice, and wept. Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
I Corinthians 13:4-6
Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.
Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.
Songs of Solomon 7:6-7
How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love, for delights! This, your stature, is like a palm tree, your breasts like its fruit.
Hosea 2:14
Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
Bible Verses on Love for Friends
Good friends are a priceless gift from God to help us connect with the world around us and fulfill His purpose for our lives. If God has put great friends in your life, you should love and celebrate them always. Here are some wonderful love scriptures for friends that encourage us to keep a love-filled relationship with our friends and everyone close to us.
I John 4:7-8
Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.
I Peter 4:8
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
John 15:12-13
This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Proverbs 17:9
He who covers an offense promotes love, but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
Job 6:14
To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend, even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
I John 3:17
But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
Ephesians 4:1-2
I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Proverb 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
I John 4:20
If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
Romans 12:10
In love of the brothers, be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor, preferring one another.
Scriptures on Love for Enemies
There’s no way around it — no matter how kind you are, some folks will hate you. As people who have enjoyed the love and mercies of God, we are called to love such persons and treat them well. Prepare your heart to obey this commandment by reflecting on the following quotations from the Bible about love and forgiveness.
Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
Matthew 5:43-45
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
Exodus 23:4-5
If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, don’t leave him. You shall surely help him with it.
Luke 23:33-34
When they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
Acts 7:59-60
They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Proverbs 24:17
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
I Peter 3:9
Not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult, but instead, blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Luke 6:27-28
“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you
Romans 12:17-20
Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Scriptures on Self-love
God doesn’t want His children to be proud and self-centered. However, He takes great pleasure in us having genuine inner love for ourselves. God sees you as His priceless possession, and you shouldn’t see yourself any less. Draw some self-love today from these inspirational love quotes from the Bible.
Zephaniah 3:17
Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
Matthew 6:26
See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?
Genesis 1:26-28
God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
I Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Psalm 139:13-14
For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
II Timothy 1:7
For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
Proverbs 27:2
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Philippians 2:3-4
Doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?
The Bible teaches marriage to be an honorable and God-ordained institution that must be kept pure. Hebrews 13:4 is one scripture on marriage love and that emphasizes this point strongly.
How Can I Show My Love to God?
We demonstrate our love for God by obeying His commandments. One way the Bible recommends to do that is to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 25:31-46)
How Can I Forgive Someone Who Has Hurt Me?
Forgiving people when they hurt us is seldom an easy thing to do. However, you can prayerfully turn to God for help. Another powerful step you can take is to meditate on Bible scriptures on love and forgiveness.
How Do You Pray for Love for Someone?
Take sufficient time to read and reflect on love Bible quotes like those in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 and Romans 12:9-10. Do this till the verses become real to your inner man. Then, incorporate the love-filled words in the Bible verses into your prayers.
Let God’s Love Shine Through You
God’s love is revolutionary. When given a free course, its effects are endless.
We are children of a loving God, and our Father wants to show how kind and loving He is to the dying world through us.
As we all yield ourselves as vessels of God’s love, we allow everyone around us to see God for who He is – the loving and compassionate Father. And when this happens, the world will glorify our Father in heaven, and more people will embrace His love for them (Matthew 5:16, I Peter 3:1-3).
It is time to live out and grow in God’s love lavishly provided to us by the Holy Spirit at salvation (Romans 5:5).
Whether it is about our love for God, family members, friends, or enemies, everything starts with knowing God more intimately. The more we know the Lord, the easier we will find it to love others.
So, get a firm grip on God’s Word, especially the scriptures on love, and reflect on them.
The Bible love quotes highlighted above are a good place to start. As you start walking in the Spirit in this manner, hatred and strife will become distasteful to you, and you will begin to find it easier to love.
