In the original biblical languages, is love a verb and hate a noun?

In the original biblical languages, both "love" and "hate" can function as verbs as well as nouns. Therefore, the real question is not "what each is" by nature, but how Scripture actually uses these words in a specific context and what spiritual meaning it invests in them.

When people say, "in the original language, love is a verb," they usually want to emphasize an important biblical truth: genuine love is not limited to a feeling, but is manifested in action. That is a valid spiritual observation, but grammatically it is not entirely accurate. In the Bible—in both the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and the Greek text of the New Testament—there are forms for "to love" and "love," as well as for "to hate" and "hatred."

Love in the Bible: Not just a word, but character and action

In the New Testament, we frequently encounter the Greek verb agapaō, "to love," as well as the noun agapē, "love." Thus, the very language of Scripture shows that love can be spoken of as an action, as a reality, and as an attribute of character.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

In this verse, "loved" is a verb. God’s love is not presented as an abstraction; it is revealed in the fact that God "gave" His Son. This is precisely how the Bible often depicts love: through a concrete act of self-sacrifice.

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8

Here, "love" is a noun. This means that love, in the biblical sense, is not merely what God does, but who He is. For Adventist theology, this is especially significant: the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan reveals this very character of God—His love, righteousness, and truth.

Ellen White repeatedly emphasized that God’s law is an expression of His love, and Christ's life is its perfect demonstration. Therefore, when we say that love "acts," we are expressing a biblical truth, but we should not reduce it solely to a grammatical form.

Hate in the Bible: Also both an action and a state of the heart

Just like love, hate in the Bible is conveyed by both verbs and nouns. In the Greek New Testament, the verb miseō, "to hate," is frequently used. However, the concept of hatred as an inner moral state is also present.

“Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15

Here, "hates" is a verb. Yet the Apostle John shows that hatred is not merely a passing emotion; it is a spiritual condition that carries moral consequences. In God's eyes, hatred is already the root of murder because it rejects the love God calls us to live by.

Scripture consistently looks at a person not only in terms of outward actions, but also in terms of the motives of the heart. Consequently, both love and hate are not merely grammatical categories, but orientations of the entire inner life.

The Old Testament confirms the same picture

In the Hebrew of the Old Testament, there is likewise the verb "to love" and corresponding noun forms for "love." In the same way, there is a verb for "to hate" and forms that mean "hatred." Thus, the claim that love in the original text is exclusively a verb does not match the linguistic reality of the biblical text.

More importantly, in Hebrew thought, love often denotes covenant faithfulness, loyalty, choice, and devotion demonstrated in conduct. Hate, on the other hand, can signify not merely intense emotional disgust, but rejection, refusal, opposition, or the withholding of intimacy in a comparative sense.

This is why certain difficult passages, such as those speaking of loving Jacob and "hating" Esau, must be read very carefully, taking into account biblical idiom, covenant context, and Semitic modes of expression. Without this, one can easily arrive at mistaken conclusions regarding God's character.

Why it is important to look beyond grammar to theological substance

The Bible does not teach that love is merely a "feeling" while hate is merely a "stance." Nor does it reduce love strictly to an external deed as if the inner state were irrelevant. In Scripture, the heart and the action are inseparable.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8

This passage demonstrates that love is verified by action. It is not merely declared; it is proven. Therefore, Christian love is manifested both as an inward devotion and as an outward ministry.

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19

Here we see the other side: people "loved" darkness. Thus, love in the biblical sense is also the chosen inclination of the heart. The same applies to hatred: it reveals that a person is rejecting the light, the truth, or their neighbor.

For Seventh-day Adventists, this theme is fundamentally tied to salvation and sanctification. God does not simply command us to love; He regenerates the heart through Christ so that love becomes the fruit of a new life. Outward compliance without love falls short of the fullness of Christianity.

Practical takeaway for the believer

In summary: in the original languages, both "love" and "hate" can be either verbs or nouns. But more importantly, the Bible reveals both concepts through choice, character, and action. Love, in the biblical sense, is not merely an emotion, but faithfulness, self-giving, and obedience to God. Hate is not merely a word or a feeling, but a condition of the heart that destroys relationships with God and fellow human beings.

Practically speaking, this means asking yourself each day not just "what do I feel?", but "what does my conduct say about my spirit?". If Christ dwells in the heart, love will show itself in patience, forgiveness, truthfulness, mercy, and faithfulness. It is such love that serves as living proof that the Gospel is active in a person's life.