Hebrew and Greek Words for Love

1. Agape Ἀγάπη or Ἀγαπάω Definition: Agapē is called out of one’s heart by the preciousness of the object loved. It is a love of esteem, of evaluation. It has the idea of prizing. Speaks of unconditional love. It is the noblest word for love in the Greek language. Agapē is not kindled by the merit or worth of it’s object, but it originates in it’s own God-given nature. God is love. It delights in giving. This love keeps on loving even when the loved one is unresponsive, unkind, unlovable, and unworthy. It is unconditional love.

Agape cont’d Agapē desires only the good of the one loved. It is a consuming passion for the well-being of others. Usage: There are only a few known occurrences of this word love outside of the Bible It is used approximately 320 times in the New Testament. Can refer to God’s love toward us His beloved, and also the type of love we should have toward one another and all people Selected References: John 3:16 Matthew 22:37-39 - Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NKJV) And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

2. Φιλἐω (Phileō) Definition: Phileō is a companionable love. This love speaks of affection, fondness, or liking. (i.e. such as family) “It is a love that is called out of one’s heart as a response to the pleasure one takes in a person or object.” (Moody Bible Institute scholar Kenneth Wuest) Phileō is a love that responds to kindness, appreciation, or love. It involves giving as well as receiving Phileō is a higher love than eros because it is our happiness rather than my happiness. This love is called out of one’s heart by qualities in another.

Φιλἐω (Phileō), cont’d Usage: It is used in a number of times in its noun and verb forms in the New Testament. In John 21:15-17, Phileo love is contrasted with agape love. References: Matt. 10:37 ( He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.) John 5:20 (For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.) Rev. 3:19 (Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.) Titus 2:4 (Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children)

3. Στοργή (Storgē) Definition: This love has its basis in one’s own nature. Storgē is a natural affection or natural obligation It is a natural movement of the soul for husband, wife, child or dog. It is a quiet, abiding feeling within a man that rests on something close to him and that he feels good about. Usage: (Only found a few times in NT) In the New Testament storgē appears in the noun or verb form with the preifx “a” and therefore negates the love and means without this type of love. 1 Timothy 3:3 as “unloving” (without natural affection, KJV). In Romans 12:10, storgē is compounded with philos and is translated “devoted” (kindly affectioned, KJV). “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Εροσ (Eros) (Not found in Bible) Eros is a love of passion, an overmastering passion that seizes and absorbs itself into the mind. Can be a love that is an emotional involvement based on body chemistry. The basic idea of this love is self-satisfaction. Though Eros is directed towards another, it actually has self in mind. For example: “I love you because you make me happy. The foundation of this type of love is some characteristic in the other person which pleases you. If the characteristic would cease to exist, the reason for the love would be gone, the result being, “I don’t love you anymore. Eros looks for what it can receive. If it does give, it gives in order to receive. If it fails to get what it wants or expects, bitterness or resentment could develop.

4. Ahavah (Hebrew) The meaning of "Ahavah" comes from its three root words in Hebrew, two of which mean "I give" and one which means "I love!" This Hebrew word, therefore, contains a tremendous truth: giving is fundamental to loving. Not only is love giving, but the actual process of giving develops the very connection between the giver and the receiver. The process of "giving" is a vehicle through which the giver is able to give of oneself to another.

Ahavah, cont’d Giving is a condition that creates and sustains love. In Hebrew, without the act of giving, there is no connection that is sustaining. The true relationships that are meaningful in our lives are those in which mutual giving takes place. To ‘give’ something in the Hebrew word "Ahavah" means to also "connect" with the one you Love. So, when the scripture refers to the word "Love," it actually says that YHWH, God, so loved us that He "gave us" or "CONNECTED with us" through His only brought-forth Son, Yeshua (Jesus). Reference: Joshua 23:11 “So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God.” NASB