Hate is a strong and harmful emotion that may destroy relationships, communities, and human hearts. The Bible offers both cautions against hatred and advice on how to overcome it, addressing the reality of hatred with profound understanding.
Scripture frequently associates hatred with sin, injustice, and disobedience to God’s plan, highlighting the fact that harboring animosity toward others not only hurts those we despise but also jeopardizes our spiritual well-being. Believers may address bad emotions, promote reconciliation, and develop a life based on love and compassion by knowing what the Bible says about hate.
Numerous instances of the negative effects of hatred, as well as the proper reaction to it are found in the Scriptures. The Bible frequently emphasizes how hatred may result in bloodshed, division, and spiritual decay in a variety of contexts, including interpersonal relationships and social injustices.
On the other hand, God calls His people to react with love, forgiveness, and patience, showing that His values require moral courage and integrity even in the face of animosity. These scriptures help believers identify negative attitudes and replace them with deeds that advance unity, justice, and peace.
Examining biblical passages concerning hatred also demonstrates the transformational potential of God’s wisdom and love. Believers are reminded of the value of empathy, humility, and mercy by looking at verses that denounce hostility and promote understanding. The Bible exhorts us to put aside resentment, bigotry, and hostility and to emulate God in all of our dealings. In the end, these passages show that love, compassion, and the pursuit of righteousness are the foundation of the antidote to hatred, acting as both a warning and a guide.
40 Most Inspiring Bible Verses About Hate (2025)
1. Leviticus 19:17
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.”
This verse teaches that harboring hate internally is spiritually dangerous. God distinguishes between righteous correction and destructive hatred. While accountability and correction are necessary in relationships, the internalization of anger or resentment against others becomes sin. This passage reminds us that our emotions must be aligned with God’s justice and love, and that unchecked hate can corrupt both our actions and our hearts.
2. Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
Here, the wisdom of Solomon contrasts hatred and love. Hatred is portrayed as a catalyst for conflict, escalating division and bitterness. In contrast, love has the power to forgive, reconcile, and neutralize offense. This verse emphasizes the transformative power of love as a counterforce to hate, highlighting the moral and spiritual responsibility to choose reconciliation over resentment.
3. Matthew 5:44
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Jesus directly challenges human instincts to retaliate against hatred. Instead of responding in kind, He calls for a radical love that transcends human emotion and relies on divine guidance. This instruction not only counters hate but also liberates the soul from bitterness, promoting healing and spiritual growth. Loving enemies transforms conflict into an opportunity for grace.
4. 1 John 3:15
“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
John equates hatred with the ultimate violation of God’s law: murder. This strong language underscores the seriousness of hatred in the heart, even when it doesn’t manifest physically. The verse challenges believers to examine their inner attitudes and emphasizes that true life in God is incompatible with harboring animosity toward others.
5. Romans 12:19
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”
Paul instructs that hatred and desire for personal vengeance should be surrendered to God. Human attempts at revenge often escalate hatred, while trusting God’s justice allows for peace and spiritual maturity. This passage teaches patience, faith, and the relinquishing of negative impulses that breed ongoing conflict.
6. Psalm 97:10
“You who love the Lord, hate evil!”
This verse distinguishes between hating evil and hating people. It calls believers to stand against sin, injustice, and moral corruption while maintaining love for humanity. Hatred is directed at actions and behaviors that oppose God’s will, not at the individuals created in God’s image. It reinforces righteous indignation as a component of godly living.
7. Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”
Paul urges believers to actively discard all forms of hostility and hate. Negative emotions, if nurtured, disrupt community, relationships, and spiritual growth. This verse emphasizes proactive spiritual discipline: hate is not simply avoided but deliberately replaced with compassion, kindness, and forgiveness.
8. Leviticus 19:18
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”
The antidote to hate is love. By commanding love for others as a reflection of self-love, God establishes a moral foundation for relationships. This law is not merely ethical but deeply spiritual, requiring an inward transformation that counters all forms of hatred and prejudice.
9. 1 Peter 3:9
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Peter reinforces that responding to hate with hatred perpetuates cycles of harm. Instead, blessing and forgiveness break the chain, creating space for reconciliation and divine favor. This verse presents a proactive strategy for overcoming hate through godly behavior and moral courage.
10. Proverbs 15:18
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms contention.”
Solomon teaches that temper and anger are closely linked to hatred and discord. Patience and self-control serve as spiritual tools to mitigate conflicts. Cultivating a calm, understanding spirit can prevent hatred from taking root, promoting harmony in relationships and community life.
11. Psalm 139:21-22
“Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?”
David expresses a righteous indignation toward those who oppose God. This verse distinguishes between hating sin and injustice versus hating individuals without cause. It reminds us that God-centered hatred is rooted in moral opposition to evil and aligns with divine justice, not personal vendetta.
12. Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Jesus links forgiveness with spiritual freedom. Harboring hatred blocks God’s grace in our lives. This verse teaches that forgiveness is not optional but essential for cleansing the heart from bitterness and for maintaining a right relationship with God.
13. Romans 12:9
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
Paul emphasizes that genuine love does not coexist with hate for the innocent but must reject evil in all its forms. Believers are called to an active discernment that loves people while opposing wrongdoing. This distinction is key to righteous living and moral clarity.
14. 1 John 4:20
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
John highlights the inseparable connection between love for God and love for others. Hate is incompatible with authentic faith. This verse challenges believers to confront any latent animosity in their hearts, emphasizing that spiritual integrity requires loving both God and neighbors.
15. Proverbs 16:6
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.”
This passage shows that divine fear and reverence, rather than hate, lead to justice and moral correction. Hatred without God’s guidance can become destructive, while godly fear motivates righteous action and correction with integrity and love.
16. Galatians 5:19-21
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions… and those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Paul lists enmity and strife as evidence of sinful nature. Hatred, when unchecked, manifests in destructive behaviors that fracture communities and alienate us from God. This verse warns believers to identify and remove hatred from their hearts to remain spiritually aligned.
17. Hebrews 1:9
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.”
This verse demonstrates that righteous hatred—hatred of wickedness—is rewarded. God approves of a moral discernment that actively rejects evil while maintaining love and justice. It encourages believers to cultivate a heart that abhors wrongdoing but not people.
18. James 1:19-20
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
James warns that impulsive anger, often fueled by hate, obstructs godly behavior. Patience and self-control allow believers to respond wisely, reflecting God’s righteousness instead of human impulsivity. This verse encourages emotional mastery as a guard against hatred.
19. Leviticus 19:16
“You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.”
God commands active protection of others from harm, including verbal attacks and malicious intentions. Hatred often manifests in gossip or slander, but God calls us to integrity and compassion in community life. True obedience removes hateful behaviors and fosters trust and unity.
20. Colossians 3:8
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
Paul instructs believers to intentionally discard all forms of hatred and harmful speech. This cleansing is not passive; it requires conscious spiritual effort to replace destructive emotions with Christlike attitudes. Removing hate paves the way for peace, reconciliation, and godly influence.
21. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.”
Paul describes the attributes of true love as the antidote to hate. Hatred thrives on arrogance, resentment, and self-interest, whereas genuine love nurtures patience, humility, and kindness. This passage reminds believers that cultivating love in their hearts actively eliminates hatred and its destructive consequences.
22. Psalm 119:104
“Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”
David emphasizes that spiritual wisdom and understanding naturally produce hatred for sin and deceit. Hatred rooted in God’s truth is righteous and discerning, helping believers to reject harmful paths while embracing life in alignment with God’s will.
23. Romans 12:17-18
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Paul teaches that hatred often leads to cycles of revenge. Instead, believers are called to pursue peace actively, leaving justice in God’s hands. This passage encourages emotional discipline and a proactive pursuit of reconciliation over retaliation.
24. Proverbs 6:16-19
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
This vivid list shows God’s abhorrence for sinful behaviors. Hatred of sin aligns with divine justice, illustrating the difference between righteous discernment and destructive personal animosity. Believers are called to hate evil acts, not the individuals themselves.
25. Matthew 23:27-28
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees… you are like whitewashed tombs, outwardly beautiful, but inwardly full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
Jesus condemns hypocrisy and deceit, highlighting the hatred God has for inauthenticity and evil in leadership. This passage challenges believers to reject duplicity and evil within themselves while promoting transparency, integrity, and love toward others.
26. Ephesians 6:12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
This verse clarifies that the battle of hatred is not with individuals but against spiritual evil. Understanding this distinction prevents misdirected hatred toward people and channels energy toward confronting injustice, sin, and demonic influence through prayer and righteous action.
27. Psalm 139:21
“Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And I hate those who rise up against you.”
David expresses solidarity with God’s righteous indignation. This verse shows that godly hatred is focused on opposition to God and moral corruption, emphasizing alignment with divine justice rather than personal grudges.
28. Proverbs 8:13
“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”
Solomon teaches that wisdom and reverence for God naturally produce hatred of evil. Hatred, in this sense, becomes a tool of discernment, guiding believers to avoid sin while embracing righteousness and humility.
29. Luke 6:27-28
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
Jesus presents a radical response to human hatred: love, blessing, and prayer. This instruction redefines power, showing that spiritual strength and peace are built not by opposing hate with hate, but by responding with godly compassion and forgiveness.
30. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”
Paul emphasizes proactive goodness as a shield against hatred. Responding to evil with love interrupts cycles of hostility and fosters harmony. This verse encourages believers to actively embody the love of Christ as a remedy for hate.
31. Malachi 1:3
“But Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a desolation.”
God declares His hatred toward sin and opposition to His plan. While the human heart struggles to understand divine hatred, it illustrates that God’s hatred is rooted in justice, righteousness, and divine sovereignty, rather than malice or personal bias.
32. Hebrews 12:15
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”
Bitterness is the seed of hatred that spreads like poison. This verse warns believers to remove resentment and forgive others, preventing spiritual and relational corruption. It underscores the need for vigilance in guarding the heart against hatred.
33. Psalm 26:5
“I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.”
David demonstrates that hatred can be a moral compass, guiding us to separate from evil influences. Avoiding association with sin while maintaining love for people allows believers to cultivate holiness without harboring personal animosity.
34. Proverbs 8:36
“But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.”
This verse conveys that hatred against God is self-destructive. It shows that hate is spiritually corrosive when directed toward the divine or righteous principles, and highlights the importance of aligning one’s heart with God.
35. Romans 13:4
“For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword in vain. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
God’s justice sometimes manifests in human governance. Hatred of wrongdoing can align with divine justice, showing that opposition to evil is necessary while remaining free from personal malice.
36. Psalm 31:6
“Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”
Trusting God’s justice eliminates personal hatred. David’s surrender illustrates that God’s protection and judgment free believers from the need to harbor animosity, replacing hate with faith and peace.
37. James 4:11
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law.”
Hatred often manifests in speech and judgment. James warns that destructive words are spiritually harmful, emphasizing love, humility, and restraint as antidotes to internal and external hate.
38. Proverbs 10:18
“The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.”
Hate often hides behind deceitful words. Solomon highlights the spiritual danger of concealed animosity, showing that honesty, integrity, and openness are essential to counteracting hatred in relationships.
39. Matthew 5:21-22
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”
Jesus teaches that anger and hatred are morally equivalent to murder in the eyes of God. This radical call urges believers to confront internal hatred, cultivating reconciliation and mercy as essential expressions of righteous living.
40. 1 John 2:9
“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.”
John closes by connecting spiritual truth with love. Hatred reveals spiritual blindness, while love illuminates the heart. Believers are challenged to reject hate entirely, embracing light, truth, and divine guidance in all relationships.
Conclusion
The Bible provides clear instructions on how to face and defeat hate, which is a deadly power that can take root in the heart if left uncontrolled. Scripture repeatedly cautions against harboring animosity, stressing that it not only hurts other people but also separates us from God. Its verses serve as a reminder to believers that the antidotes to hatred are love, forgiveness, and compassion. Studying these verses helps us comprehend God’s intention for relationship restoration and reconciliation. It also teaches us to handle disputes with understanding and patience rather than rage and hatred.
The Bible’s message is ultimately one of transformation. God calls us to mirror His nature through compassion, humility, and love rather than using hatred to define our relationships or dictate our behavior. We may end cycles of resentment and conflict, advance peace, and cultivate harmony within our communities by incorporating the knowledge of Scripture into our daily lives. Believers can develop hearts of mercy and reconciliation by embracing God’s teachings on hate, ensuring that justice and love triumph over rage and division.
