μισέω (miseō)
miseō
to hate
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 37 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb miseō means to hate, but in Scripture it often carries a specific comparative sense rather than simple emotional hostility. While it can describe intense animosity, as when Jesus warns that the world will hate his followers because they do not share its values (John 15:18-19), it also functions in contexts of relative preference. In these cases, the word indicates choosing one loyalty over another, even if it means treating the lesser option with disregard.
This nuance is crucial for understanding Jesus’ radical call to discipleship. When he says a person must hate their father and mother to be his disciple (Luke 14:26), he is using hyperbole to demand absolute priority. The sources note that this usage parallels the Hebrew sane’, which can mean showing indifference to one thing in comparison with another, such as Jacob’s relative preference for Rachel over Leah (Genesis 29:31). Thus, miseō here describes a decisive reordering of loves, where allegiance to Christ supersedes all other ties.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word miseō often brings to mind intense anger or hostility, yet Scripture uses it in a way that challenges our deepest loyalties. In passages like Matthew 6:24, Jesus contrasts serving God with serving money, noting that one will inevitably be hated while the other is loved. This isn't about emotional vitriol but about decisive allegiance. When we try to serve two masters, our hearts naturally reject one in favor of the other.
This comparative sense reaches its peak in Luke 14:26, where Jesus speaks of hating family and even one’s own life to be His disciple. Here, the word describes a radical reordering of priorities. It is not a call to abuse loved ones, but to ensure that devotion to Christ supersedes every other tie. This demand clarifies what truly holds our hearts.
Understanding this helps us navigate the tension of living in a world that may oppose our faith. John 15:19 reminds us that the world hates believers because they do not belong to it. Rather than fearing this rejection, we can see it as evidence of our distinct identity. Our ultimate loyalty belongs to Christ alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 37 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hating9×
- hated6×
- hates3×
- will hate2×
- he will hate2×
- hated,2×
- you hate1×
- were hating1×
- to hate1×
- they will hate1×
- may hate,1×
- may hate1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μισῶν5×
- μισούμενοι4×
- μισεῖ4×
- μισήσουσιν2×
- μισήσει2×
- μισοῦντες2×
- μισεῖ,2×
- ἐμίσουν1×
- ἐμίσησάν1×
- ἐμίσησεν,1×
- ἐμίσησεν1×
- ἐμίσησας1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
This verse uses the word to illustrate the mutual exclusivity of serving God versus wealth, showing that divided loyalty leads to rejecting one master for the other.
-
Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.
Here the term functions as hyperbole to demand absolute priority, indicating that allegiance to Jesus must supersede even the closest familial bonds.
-
John 15:19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
This occurrence explains the source of persecution, attributing the world's hatred to the believer's distinct origin and separation from worldly values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bible command us to hate our family?
What is the difference between misēō and other words for hate?
Why does the world hate Christians according to John 15?
Every Occurrence (37 verses across 11 books)
Matthew 6 verses
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who…
Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one…
Matthew 10:22You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:9“Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s…
Matthew 24:10Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.