by Hatred is a powerful emotion that can cause immense harm, not only to those who are its target but also to the person harboring it. The Bible speaks extensively about the dangers of hatred and the importance of love and forgiveness. Below are Bible verses that address the issue of hatred towards others, accompanied by commentary to help you understand and reflect on these scriptures.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Fake Friends
Bible Verses About Hatred Towards Others
Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].”
Commentary: This verse highlights the destructive nature of hatred, which only leads to conflict and discord. In contrast, love has the power to heal and forgive, bringing peace and unity. It reminds us that choosing love over hatred is a choice that can transform relationships and communities.
1 John 2:9
“The one who says he is in the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet habitually hates his [brother in Christ] is in the darkness until now.”
Commentary: John warns that claiming to follow Christ while harboring hatred is a contradiction. True fellowship with Christ brings light, which dispels darkness. Hatred, therefore, is a sign that one is not truly walking in the light, and it calls for self-examination and repentance.
1 John 4:20
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates [works against] his Christian brother [he is a liar]; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Commentary: This verse emphasizes the inconsistency of claiming to love God while hating others. Our love for God is demonstrated in our love for others. If we cannot love those around us, our claim to love God is empty and untrue.
Leviticus 19:17
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you may most certainly rebuke your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.”
Commentary: The command not to harbor hatred in our hearts shows that God is concerned with our inner attitudes, not just our outward actions. This verse also encourages addressing wrongs directly rather than letting them fester into hatred, which can lead to sin.
Matthew 5:44
“But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Commentary: Jesus commands us to go beyond natural inclinations and love even our enemies. This radical love, expressed through prayer and seeking the best for those who oppose us, reflects God’s unconditional love for humanity.
Proverbs 15:17
“Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present than a fattened ox served with hatred.”
Commentary: This proverb highlights the importance of love over material abundance. A modest meal shared in love is far more valuable and satisfying than a lavish feast marred by hatred. It reminds us to prioritize relationships and love over wealth and extravagance.
Romans 12:19
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Commentary: Paul instructs believers to refrain from seeking revenge, trusting that God will bring justice in His time. Holding on to hatred and a desire for vengeance only hurts us. Instead, we should trust God’s perfect justice and release the burden of retaliation.
Colossians 3:8
“But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene [abusive, filthy, vulgar] language from your mouth.”
Commentary: This verse calls for a complete transformation of our attitudes and actions. Hatred often manifests in harmful words and actions. As believers, we are called to rid ourselves of these destructive behaviors, replacing them with love and kindness.
Titus 3:3
“For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”
Commentary: Paul reminds us of our past before knowing Christ, characterized by hatred and sinful desires. This reflection on our former life should inspire gratitude for God’s transformative grace and a commitment to live differently, guided by love rather than hatred.
Galatians 5:19-21
“Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Commentary: Hatred and hostility are listed among the works of the flesh that are incompatible with the life of a believer. Paul warns that such behaviors are barriers to inheriting God’s kingdom, urging us to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit instead.
Proverbs 26:24
“He who hates, disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit in his heart.”
Commentary: This proverb warns about the deceitful nature of hatred. While someone may outwardly conceal their hatred, it remains a poison in their heart, leading to deceit and ultimately destruction. It’s a call to honesty and the need to root out hatred from within.
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor (perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding) and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted (compassionate, understanding), forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.”
Commentary: Paul encourages believers to put away all forms of hatred and animosity, replacing them with kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. This transformation mirrors God’s forgiveness towards us and fosters unity and love within the community.
1 Peter 2:1
“So put aside every trace of malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander and hateful speech;”
Commentary: Peter exhorts believers to rid themselves of all forms of hatred, which includes malice, deceit, and slander. These behaviors are contrary to the new life we are called to in Christ, and removing them is essential for spiritual growth.
1 John 3:15
“Everyone who hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer [by God’s standards]; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
Commentary: John makes a bold statement equating hatred with murder, emphasizing the severity of harboring such feelings. Hatred is a form of spiritual death, incompatible with the eternal life that comes through Christ.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Loving Everyone
James 1:19-20
“Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words], and slow to anger; for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].”
Commentary: James advises believers to be slow to anger, recognizing that human anger often leads to unrighteousness. Hatred, rooted in anger, does not align with God’s righteousness. Instead, we are called to patience, understanding, and self-control.
Proverbs 14:29
“He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control], but he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].”
Commentary: This proverb contrasts the wisdom of patience with the folly of quick-tempered anger. Hatred often arises from a lack of self-control and understanding, leading to foolish actions. Cultivating patience helps us avoid the pitfalls of hatred.
Matthew 5:22
“But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice against him shall be guilty before the court; and whoever speaks [contemptuously and insultingly] to his brother, ‘Raca (You empty-headed idiot)!’ shall be guilty before the supreme court (Sanhedrin); and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fiery hell.”
Commentary: Jesus teaches that even harboring anger or expressing contempt towards others is a serious offense. Hatred, whether expressed or hidden, is destructive and subject to judgment. This verse calls us to guard our hearts and words, seeking reconciliation instead of harboring malice.
Romans 13:10
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.”
Commentary: Paul emphasizes that love, which seeks the good of others, is the essence of God’s law. Hatred, which harms others, is therefore a violation of this law. Living in love fulfills our duty to God and our neighbors.
Proverbs 10:18
“He who hides hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool.”
Commentary: This proverb warns against concealing hatred, which leads to deceit, and spreading slander, which is foolish. Hatred, when hidden, festers and leads to further sin. It’s a call to honesty and dealing with negative emotions in a healthy, truthful manner.
Matthew 24:10
“At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another, handing over believers to their persecutors, and will hate one another.”
Commentary: Jesus warns of a time when many will turn against each other, driven by hatred. This prophecy reflects the reality that hatred can even infiltrate communities of faith, leading to betrayal and division. It is a sober reminder to guard against allowing hatred to take root.
1 John 4:19-21
“We love, because He first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.”
Commentary: John’s words reiterate the inseparable connection between loving God and loving others. Hatred towards others is incompatible with a genuine love for God. This passage challenges us to demonstrate our love for God through tangible acts of love and kindness towards others.
Luke 6:27-28
“But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, make it a practice to do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Commentary: Jesus calls us to a radical love that extends even to our enemies. This love is not passive but active, expressed through doing good, blessing, and praying for those who oppose us. It’s a powerful antidote to hatred and a reflection of God’s grace.
Proverbs 17:9
“He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.”
Commentary: This proverb contrasts the healing power of forgiveness with the destructive nature of gossip. Hatred often leads to spreading negative information, which can ruin relationships. In contrast, forgiveness fosters love and reconciliation, keeping relationships intact.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.”
Commentary: Paul’s famous description of love highlights its selfless and patient nature. Love does not hold grudges or keep a record of wrongs, which are often the seeds of hatred. Instead, love is characterized by a willingness to forgive and endure, even in difficult situations.
Proverbs 15:1
“A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, but harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.”
Commentary: This proverb underscores the power of our words in either diffusing or escalating conflict. Hatred often fuels harsh words, which in turn provoke more anger. A gentle response, however, can de-escalate situations and prevent hatred from taking root.
Romans 14:19
“So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].”
Commentary: Paul encourages believers to actively seek peace and mutual edification. Hatred, by contrast, tears down and destroys. This verse calls us to be peacemakers, fostering an environment where love and growth can flourish.
Hebrews 12:14-15
“Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”
Commentary: The author of Hebrews warns against allowing resentment to take root, as it can lead to widespread defilement. Hatred, like a root, can grow and spread, causing division and harm. Pursuing peace and sanctification helps prevent this and ensures we remain in God’s grace.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people.”
Commentary: Paul urges believers to resist the urge to retaliate when wronged. Hatred often leads to a cycle of revenge, but we are called to break that cycle by seeking the good of others, even when they have harmed us. This reflects the heart of Christ’s teaching on forgiveness and love.
Proverbs 19:11
“Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, and it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].”
Commentary: This proverb highlights the wisdom and honor in being slow to anger and quick to forgive. Hatred often stems from a lack of discretion and a quick temper. Choosing to overlook offenses, rather than holding onto them, brings peace and demonstrates godly character.
James 4:1-2
“What leads to [the unending] quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your hedonistic desires that wage war in your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God].”
Commentary: James identifies the root of many conflicts as selfish desires and envy. Hatred often arises when we allow these desires to control us, leading to destructive actions. This passage calls us to examine our motives and seek God’s provision rather than giving in to hatred and envy.
Psalm 37:8
“Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evil.”
Commentary: The psalmist advises against anger and wrath, warning that they only lead to evil. Hatred, often fueled by unresolved anger, can consume and destroy. By letting go of anger and trusting in God’s justice, we can avoid the destructive path of hatred.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Apologizing
What Does the Bible Say About Hatred Towards Others
Hatred towards others is something the Bible strongly discourages, and it is clear that such feelings can lead to negative consequences in our lives and in our communities. When we hold onto hatred in our hearts, it not only affects the way we treat others but also impacts our relationship with God. The Bible teaches us that we should strive to live in peace with one another, regardless of how we may feel about someone personally. Harboring hatred doesn’t solve any problem but creates more. It makes us more distant from the love and joy we are meant to experience.
Instead of allowing hatred to take root in our hearts, we are encouraged to practice forgiveness and kindness. When we let go of hatred, we make room for love, understanding, and healing, which are far more beneficial for everyone involved. Hatred can blind us to the good in others and cause division, but love brings people together and helps us see each other with compassion. At the end of the day, the Bible’s message is that we are called to love one another, even when it is difficult, because love is the key to building strong, healthy relationships and a peaceful life. Let’s make an effort to replace any hatred in our hearts with love, and watch how it transforms not just us, but those around us too.