In the modern world, a lot of people try to paint Christians as being hateful towards others. However, if you’re a Christian then you know that’s not the case. The word hate is a very strong word. That’s why I want to take a look at what the word hate means in Hebrew and Greek.
But first, I’ll show you the 1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary definition of the word ‘hate’:
“1. To dislike greatly; to have a great aversion to. It expresses less than abhor, detest, and abominate, unless pronounced with a peculiar emphasis.
How long will fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1:22.
Blessed are ye when men shall hate you. Luke 6:22.
The Roman tyrant was contented to be hated, if he was but feared.
2. In Scripture, it signifies to love less.”
To read the rest of the definition, click here.
All scriptures are taken from NKJV unless otherwise marked.
What Does The Word ‘Hate’ Mean In Hebrew?
satam- to persecute.
sane- to hate.
This word represents an emotion ranging from intense hatred to “set against” a person or thing, which is a much weaker form of the word.
The strong sense shows the emotion of jealousy.
“But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.”
– Genesis 37:4
Satam covers a wide range of emotions from bitter disdain to outright hatred. In a weaker sense, it means being set against something.
In Deuteronomy 22:16, it’s used to mean “unloved.”
What Does The Word ‘Hate’ Mean In Greek?
miseo- to detest, to love less.
As a verb, it means ‘to hate’. It’s used in the following ways:
- of malicious and unjustifiable feelings toward others (Matthew 10:22; Luke 6:22; John 3:20)
- hatred or having been hated of a right feeling of aversion from what is evil
“Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
– 1 John 3:15
Conclusion
Hate in the Bible can speak of many different emotions. It can be intense hatred or simply loving something less than others. All in all, the Bible tells us to love God and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Love is the fulfillment of the law, but hating sin is just. That’s because sin works against God’s will and tears down things that God loves.
That’s what the word hate means in Hebrew and Greek. I pray you found this article helpful. If so, please share this content. Also, feel free to leave any thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
Looking for similar content? Check out these:
Hi could you please explain to the Hebrew word Hate, in reference to the scripture jacob have I love, but easu I HATE! Does it mean love less ?, As I’m being attacked by BHI saying that God Hates white people and calls them Edomites! Thank you God’s Grace on you 🙏 I sent a comment but the spell check changed easu/easy and HATE/Have. May the LORD bless and sustain you.
Hi John,
Thanks for the comment. I will do my best to answer. I will send you an email to the email address you’ve listed.
Thank you.
I would also like to know what you believe about Jacob & Easu ? This is a strong word. Do the word Hate mean Hate or is it something else ?
When Jesus is speaking of hating our parents in order to be his disciple or to be worthy of Heaven, Jesus is saying our love for God Almighty the Father should be greater than our love for our parents since our parents cannot guarantee us eternal life through Christ Jesus unto the Father. We must love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind strength and soul. This love for God must outweigh our relationships with our parents since our biological families are of flesh and blood and God Almighty is of Spirit: Eternal Life. Our parents cannot give us eternal life. They can only lead us to Christ and hope for the best. In other words, not all family members will be in Heaven with us. Our true family is the children of God via the House of David which is a spiritual lineage, not a physical lineage or ancestry. Furthermore, it’s not uncommon for families to despise each other.
BHI didn’t say this you have to research this is true sorry and that’s not for all many W Gentiles will be in the Kingdom go on YouTube to Watchman Report and they can explain. May YAH Our Heavenly Father bless you and pray He give you and ear to hear.
Mr. Mc Dermott,
I am sorry that you had such a nasty encounter with a sect of the BHI. Apparently they do not understand context. Esau was ‘loved less’ because he sold his birth right (Abrahamic convenant, spiritual blessing, rich heritage) for the hunger of his flesh to be satiated. He also turned from Yah and worshipped other gods after the manner of his heathen wives. There was a brotherly covenant that God honored amongst them yet the decendents of Esau dishonored that covenant and warred with their brethren. For that reason they were cut off. (Book of Amos) We can track Esau and Edom in the Bible and see their track record to verify that they were loved less and not unjustifiably abhorred. Yah hates sin …idolotry is sin. Esau -Edomites were idolotrous and Jacob turned to Yahweh…he wrestled with God, was blessed and commanded his household to worship the one true God. Did Esau do the same? No. So in essence, it is not a race situation but rather sin.
Excellent! You perfectly explained how families turn against each other and God.
Actually, in Romans 9:11-12 it says, “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad – in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by Him who calls – she was too, “The older will serve the younger.” As you can see from the text (NKJV), Jacob was chosen for honor and Esau chosen for dishonor before they were born, before Esau sold his birthright or had done evil or good. And the same for Jacob, who was deceitful and a manipulator, before he had done good or evil, he was chosen for honor solely because of God’s sovereignty and the purpose of His will. They were each chosen for purposes not based on anything they did or would do but “in order that God’s purpose in election might stand.” We can’t reconcile this but we have to trust that God knows it all and He is faithful and just and righteous all the time! Amen and Amen.
Hello Mr McDermott,
my little understanding of the things of God is that he LOVE and if that than be true then there can be no Hate in Him. 1 Corinthians 13 explained what true LOVE is… The Almighty God will hate what we do, but will Never hate us…..human being is the author of Hate Not God.
can you explanation Hosea 9.15 how hate is used
Hosea chapter 9 is about the judgment of Israel’s sin.
“Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples,
For you have played the harlot against your God.” Hosea 9:1
“All their wickedness is in Gilgal,
For there I hated them.
Because of the evil of their deeds
I will drive them from My house;
I will love them no more.
All their princes are rebellious.” Hosea 9:15
The root of the Hebrew word for hate is sane.
This is what the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary says about this usage:
“One special use of sane is ingressive, indicating the initiation of the emotion (hate).
The definition of ingressive is “entering.”
From this, I conclude that the meaning hate in Hosea 9:15 is exactly that- hate. However, it’s hate that used to be love. God’s love for Israel turned into hatred because of the wicked abominations and sins they were committing. Therefore, He promises to judge them according to their sins.
“My God will cast them away,
Because they did not obey Him;
And they shall be wanderers among the nations.” Hosea 9:17