What Does the Bible Say About Love? 8 Verses and What Each One Means
The main Bible verses about love are 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, John 3:16, 1 John 4:7-8 and John 13:34. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is the most read: it describes love through verbs — "love is patient and is kind", it "doesn't envy", it "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things". John 3:16 presents God's love for the world as the origin of everything. 1 John 4:7-8 gives the Bible's most direct line on the subject: "God is love". John 13:34 turns love into a command between people. This page collects 8 Bible verses about love with the full text, the reference and a one-line explanation for each.
Few words are used — and emptied — as much as "love". The Bible gives it weight again. Instead of defining love as a feeling, it describes what love does: it is patient, it is kind, it keeps no record of wrongs, it bears all things. It speaks of God's love as the source of everything, of love for our neighbor as the summary of the commandments, and of love in marriage, family and community as something practiced, not only felt. The verses on this page are for reading at ceremonies, writing in cards, meditating on hard days or simply remembering why it is worth going on loving when it is not easy. Start with 1 Corinthians 13 and let each line ask a question about the way you love.
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; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16Beloved, 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.
1 John 4:7-8A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.
John 13:34For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
Proverbs 10:12Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Frequently asked questions
What is the "love chapter" of the Bible?
1 Corinthians 13, written by Paul. Verses 4 to 7 describe what love does and does not do, which is why they are read at so many weddings.
What does "God is love" mean?
The phrase is in 1 John 4:8 and 4:16. It says love is not only something God does but part of who He is — which is why those who know God are called to love.
Which verse works in a love card?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Song of Songs 8:7 and 1 John 4:18 are short and recognizable. Open the verse page to copy the text.
See also
Scripture text: World English Bible (WEB), public domain. Prayers, introductions and reflections: original text by this site, not affiliated with any denomination. Devotional content; it does not replace medical, psychological or legal advice.