ἀγάπη (agapē)
agapē
love
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 104 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
Core Meaning
Ἀγάπη (agapē) fundamentally denotes love, goodwill, and esteem — a self-giving regard for another. In biblical Greek, it carries a distinctive weight as the preeminent term for a committed, deliberate love that seeks the good of the beloved.
How It Is Used in Scripture
- Love between people: Jesus commands his disciples to love one another, making mutual love the defining mark of his followers (John 13:35).
- Love for God: Believers are called to love God, and this love is expressed through keeping his word (1 John 2:5).
- God’s love for humanity: Divine love is shown most fully in God sending his Son for the salvation of the world (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9–10).
- Christ’s love: The apostle Paul speaks of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:19) and that compels believers (2 Corinthians 5:14).
- The love feasts: In the early church, ἀγάπη also referred to the communal meals shared by believers as an expression of fellowship (Jude 1:12).
Etymology
Ἀγάπη is a noun derived from the verb ἀγαπάω (agapaō). Outside of biblical and early Christian literature, the word is rare in classical Greek; its widespread use in the New Testament reflects a distinctive emphasis on a love that is volitional and grounded in the character of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ἀγάπη (agapē) describes a love that runs deeper than mere feeling. It is the love Jesus commanded when He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). This love does not depend on liking someone or expecting something in return. Instead, it chooses to seek the good of another, even at personal cost. In a broken world, agapē is the quiet, steady force that binds believers together and makes the gospel visible.
We can love this way only because God first loved us. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The cross reveals agapē in its purest form—a love that gives without condition. And this same love is not distant; the Holy Spirit pours it into our hearts. So when we feel empty or impatient, we are not left to create love on our own. Instead, we draw from a well already placed within us.
Living in agapē means turning ordinary moments into sacred ones: forgiving a slight, bearing a burden, speaking a gentle word. It is the heartbeat of Christian community and the clearest sign that we belong to Jesus. Remember: agapē is not a feeling to chase but a life to practice, one small choice at a time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 104 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- love79×
- love,10×
- love.7×
- of love3×
- Love3×
- in love2×
- to love1×
- of love.1×
- of love,1×
- love;1×
- love feasts1×
- love [is].1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀγάπη30×
- ἀγάπην27×
- ἀγάπῃ19×
- ἀγάπης15×
- ἀγάπῃ,5×
- ἀγάπῃ.¶3×
- ἀγάπην,3×
- ἀγάπη,3×
- ἀγάπην.2×
- ἀγάπη.¶2×
- ἀγάπῃ.1×
- ἀγάπης.1×
Key Verses
-
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
The ultimate example of agape: self-sacrifice for others.
-
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God's love is unconditional, shown through Christ's sacrifice.
-
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Agape is the highest virtue, surpassing even faith and hope.
-
Romans 13:10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Agape perfectly fulfills God's commands by doing good to others.
-
John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Mutual love is the defining mark of Christ's followers.