אַהֲבָה (a.ha.vah)
a.ha.vah
love
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 33 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ahabah denotes love as a concrete reality, appearing thirty-three times primarily in poetic and prophetic books like Song of Solomon and Jeremiah. It describes the powerful bond between people, whether in the deep affection between friends, the loyalty of family, or the intense passion between lovers. The word captures both the emotional experience and the relational commitment that defines these connections.
A significant portion of its usage highlights God’s steadfast love for Israel. In passages like Hosea 3:1 and Deuteronomy 7:8, ahabah describes a divine choice that is not based on merit but on grace. This theological weight distinguishes it from casual preference; it is a loyal, enduring affection that binds the Creator to His people even when they are unfaithful.
The term also appears in contexts of human desire and delight, such as in Proverbs 5:19 where it describes the attraction between spouses. Translators consistently render it as "love," yet the Hebrew sense often carries a physical or visceral intensity that English can sometimes soften. It represents a love that is felt deeply and acted upon, whether in the courtship of Solomon or the covenantal promise of Jeremiah.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ahabah describes love not as a fleeting feeling, but as a deep, enduring bond that shapes relationships. It appears in the Bible to describe the loyalty between friends like David and Jonathan, the passion between spouses in Song of Solomon, and God’s steadfast choice of Israel. This term captures both the emotional weight and the relational commitment that defines true connection.
For your faith, this word reminds you that love is a concrete reality. It is not merely an abstract idea but a force that binds people together and anchors them to God. Whether in the covenantal promise of Deuteronomy or the intimate verses of Song of Solomon, ahabah shows us that love is powerful enough to overcome distance, time, and even death.
You can find comfort in knowing that the same love described in these ancient texts is available to you today. It invites you to value relationships built on loyalty and grace, reflecting the enduring affection God has for His people. This love does not fade; it remains a steady presence in your life, offering hope and stability.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 33 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- love8×
- in/ love/ his5×
- <the>/ love4×
- love/ my2×
- [the] love of2×
- to/ love [them]1×
- to love/ them1×
- more than/ love1×
- more than/ [the] love of1×
- more than/ [the] love1×
- love/ your1×
- love/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/אַהֲבָ֖ה3×
- אַהֲבָ֔ה3×
- בְּ/אַהֲבָת֥/וֹ2×
- בְּ/אַהֲבָת֖/וֹ2×
- אַהֲבָֽה\׃2×
- אַהֲבָ֖ה2×
- אַהֲבָ֑ה2×
- מֵֽ/אַהֲבָ֥ה1×
- מֵֽ/אַהֲבַ֨ת1×
- מֵ/אַהֲבָ֖ה1×
- מֵ/אַהֲבַ֖ת1×
- לְ/אַהֲבָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 7:8
but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
This verse highlights that God’s choice of Israel was based on His own loving-kindness rather than their merit, establishing love as an act of grace.
-
I Samuel 18:3
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
Here the word describes the profound covenant loyalty between Jonathan and David, equating his love for his friend with love for his own soul.
-
Song of Solomon 8:6
Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yah.
This passage uses strong imagery to declare that love is as powerful and unyielding as death itself, emphasizing its intensity and permanence.
-
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
In this wisdom literature, love is presented as the active force that covers wrongs, contrasting sharply with the strife caused by hatred.