Bible Verses About Love
Love is the thread that runs through the whole of Scripture, God's love for people, and the love we are called to show one another. These verses gather that teaching in one place, from the famous words on charity to the greatest commandment.
Scripture presents love as the very nature of God and the heart of how people are called to live. 1 John 4:8 states plainly that God is love, and John 3:16 shows that love in action, God giving his only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth in him should have everlasting life. In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus names loving God and loving your neighbour as the greatest commandments, and in John 13:34 he gives a new commandment to love one another. The well known passage in 1 Corinthians 13 describes what that love looks like, patient and kind, and calls charity the greatest of faith, hope, and charity. The verses below are King James Version, gathered for study, prayer, and reflection.
Read these slowly and let the words settle. When one speaks to you, carry it into a daily verse habit, fold it into a reading plan, or search by feeling on the find a verse page. You can also browse every topic or pair these with the prayers.
1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Mark 12:30-31
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Common Questions
What does the Bible say about love?
The Bible presents love as central to who God is and how people are meant to live. 1 John 4:8 says God is love, and John 3:16 shows that love in action, God giving his only begotten Son. Believers are then called to love one another, as in John 13:34 and 1 John 4:7.
What is the best Bible verse about love?
Many point to John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, as the best known verse on God's love. Others hold to 1 Corinthians 13:13, which calls charity the greatest of faith, hope, and charity.
What does 1 Corinthians 13 say love is?
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. The passage goes on to say that love does not behave unseemly, does not seek its own, and is not easily provoked, describing love as patient, humble, and selfless.
What did Jesus say is the greatest commandment about love?
In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus says to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love thy neighbour as thyself. He adds that there is none other commandment greater than these.
Does the Bible say love casts out fear?
Yes. 1 John 4:18 says there is no fear in love, and that perfect love casteth out fear. Romans 8:38-39 adds that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.