How Many Times is Love Mentioned in the Bible
Introduction
People often ask: How many times is love mentioned in the Bible? It’s a fair question—and a good one. Sometimes it comes from someone doing a Bible study. Sometimes it’s someone hoping that love really is central to God. Sometimes it’s from someone who’s heard a lot more about judgment than grace.
So let’s start with the answer—and then go deeper into what it means.
How Often Is Love Mentioned in the Bible?
The word “love” is mentioned between 300 and 550 times in most English Bible translations. The exact number depends on the version: the King James Version mentions it 310 times, while the New International Version mentions it over 550 times. More than just a word count, love is the central theme that runs through the entire biblical story—from God’s covenant with Israel to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
The number of times the word “love” appears depends on the Bible translation:
Translation | Mentions of “Love” |
---|---|
King James Version (KJV) | ~310 |
New International Version (NIV) | ~550 |
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) | ~538 |
English Standard Version (ESV) | ~551 |
New Living Translation (NLT) | ~645 |
Why the difference? Translations vary in how they handle the original Hebrew and Greek words. For example:
Hebrew has words like ahavah (love), chesed (steadfast love/mercy), and rachamim (compassion, mercy).
Greek includes agape (self-giving love), philia (brotherly love), eros (romantic love), and storge (familial love).
So while we can count English occurrences, the depth of love in the Bible goes far beyond a number.
Love in the Old Testament
God’s Covenant Love
In the Hebrew Scriptures, love often shows up in the form of steadfast love—chesed—a word used to describe God’s loyal, covenantal, never-letting-go love for Israel.
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 86:15 (NRSV)
This isn’t sentimental affection—it’s commitment. God loves His people not because they’re always lovable, but because He is faithful.
Human Love and Brokenness
We also see human expressions of love: between spouses, parents and children, friends, and communities. But it’s often mixed with struggle, too. The Old Testament tells stories of betrayal, jealousy, and unfaithfulness—reminding us that even human love needs redemption.
Love in the New Testament
Jesus as the Embodiment of Love
If the Old Testament promises God’s love, the New Testament shows it. Jesus is the clearest expression of what divine love looks like.
“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13 (NRSV)
Everything Jesus does—healing, forgiving, teaching, dying, and rising—is a display of love that sacrifices for others
Paul’s Theology of Love
The Apostle Paul makes love central in his letters. Most famously:
“And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSV)
In Romans, Paul writes that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38–39).
Different Types of Love in the Bible
While our English Bibles mostly use the single word love, the original languages distinguish between different kinds:
Greek Word | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
Agape | Selfless, divine love | John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world…” |
Philia | Brotherly/friendship love | John 21:17 – “Do you love me?” |
Eros | Romantic/sexual love | Song of Songs |
Storge | Familial, protective love | Romans 12:10 – “Be devoted to one another in love” |
This helps us understand that the Bible speaks to all forms of love—and shows us how divine love transforms them all.
More Than a Word Count
The truth is, asking “How many times is love mentioned in the Bible?” is a little like asking how many notes are in a song. The number matters—but what really matters is what it makes us feel, what it calls us to, and what kind of world it opens up.
Love isn’t just a theme in the Bible—it’s the thread that ties the whole story together:
God creates out of love.
God rescues Israel in love.
Jesus lives, dies, and rises in love.
The Spirit pours love into our hearts.
The Church is called to love one another and the world.
How Many Times Is Love Mentioned in the Bible? Meaning for Today
A Faith That Begins in Love
Christianity is not a religion built on fear or rule-keeping. It’s a relationship that begins with God saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
A Calling to Embody Love
We’re not just called to believe in love—we’re called to live it. In a world marked by division, suspicion, and burnout, the way Christians love can still be our loudest witness.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35 (NRSV)
A Comfort in the Middle of Struggle
Many people feel unloved by the world—or even by themselves. The Bible’s message is this: You are deeply, eternally, and personally loved by the God who made you. That truth doesn’t always take away pain, but it gives us a place to stand in the middle of it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why do Bible translations differ in the number of times “love” appears?
Different translations choose different English words to represent the original Greek or Hebrew. Some use “mercy,” “faithfulness,” or “compassion” instead of “love,” even when the meaning overlaps.
What’s the first mention of love in the Bible?
The first mention is in Genesis 22:2, when God tells Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…” It’s a striking introduction: love tied to sacrifice.
Which book of the Bible mentions love the most?
The book of Psalms mentions God’s love repeatedly, while 1 John uses the word “love” more than any other book relative to its length—especially in chapter 4, which famously says “God is love.”
Final Word
So how many times is love mentioned in the Bible? Hundreds. But more than that—every page whispers it.
The Bible doesn’t just tell us that love exists. It shows us that love is who God is, what God does, and what God calls us into. And once you’ve seen that… you’ll start to notice love showing up on every page—even when the word itself isn’t there.