Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemies

King James Version · 13 passages

Loving an enemy is the command that most clearly marks the children of God, for it cannot be done in our own strength. Jesus told us to bless those who curse us and pray for those who despitefully use us, and He did exactly that from the cross. These passages set out the hardest love the Bible asks of anyone.

Matthew 5:43–48

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

In the original: ἐχθρός echthros G2190 — From a primary word ἔχθω echthō (to hate); hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan): - enemy, foe.

See also: Romans 12:14 · 1 Peter 3:9 · Luke 6:27 · Romans 12:20

Luke 6:27–28

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

In the original: ἐχθρός echthros G2190 — From a primary word ἔχθω echthō (to hate); hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan): - enemy, foe.

See also: 1 Peter 3:9 · 1 Thessalonians 5:15 · 1 Corinthians 4:12 · Romans 12:14

Romans 12:19–21

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

In the original: ἐχθρός echthros G2190 — From a primary word ἔχθω echthō (to hate); hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan): - enemy, foe.

See also: Deuteronomy 32:35 · 1 Peter 3:9 · Proverbs 25:21 · Luke 6:27

Luke 6:32–36

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

In the original: ἐχθρός echthros G2190 — From a primary word ἔχθω echthō (to hate); hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan): - enemy, foe.

See also: Matthew 5:44 · John 13:35 · Proverbs 19:17 · Romans 5:8

Proverbs 25:21–22

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

In the original: שׂנא śânê' H8130 — A primitive root; to hate (personally): - enemy, foe, (be) hate (-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.

See also: Romans 12:20 · Matthew 5:44 · Exodus 23:4 · Proverbs 24:17

Luke 23:34

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

In the original: διαμερίζω diamerizō G1266 — From G1223 and G3307; to partition thoroughly (literally in distribution, figuratively in dissension): - cloven, divide, part.

See also: Matthew 5:44 · Acts 7:60 · 1 Peter 3:9 · 1 Peter 2:20

Romans 12:14

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

In the original: διώκω diōkō G1377 — A prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb δίω diō (to flee ; compare the base of G1169 and G1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute: - ensue, follow

See also: 1 Peter 3:9 · Matthew 5:44 · 1 Thessalonians 5:15 · Romans 12:21

Exodus 23:4–5

4 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. and...: or, wilt thou cease to help him? or, and wouldest cease to leave thy business for him: thou shalt surely leave it to join with him

In the original: איב אויב 'ôyêb 'ôyêb H341 — Active participle of H340; hating ; an adversary: - enemy, foe.

See also: Deuteronomy 22:1 · Deuteronomy 22:4 · 1 Thessalonians 5:15 · Matthew 5:44

Proverbs 24:17–18

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. it displeaseth...: Heb. it be evil in his eyes

In the original: איב אויב 'ôyêb 'ôyêb H341 — Active participle of H340; hating ; an adversary: - enemy, foe.

See also: Obadiah 1:12 · Job 31:29 · Proverbs 17:5 · 1 Corinthians 13:6

Matthew 5:38–42

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

See also: Leviticus 24:19 · Deuteronomy 19:21 · 1 Thessalonians 5:15 · 1 Peter 3:9

1 Thessalonians 5:15

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

In the original: διώκω diōkō G1377 — A prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb δίω diō (to flee ; compare the base of G1169 and G1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute: - ensue, follow

See also: 1 Peter 3:9 · Galatians 6:10 · Leviticus 19:18 · 3 John 1:11