Scripture for Loving God & Others

Bible Verses About Love

Bible verses about love — God's love for us, our love for one another, and love in action. Read each passage in context or draw a random love verse. 14 carefully reviewed passages from the World English Bible (WEB).

Love is at the heart of the Christian faith — God’s love for us, and our love for one another. These passages explore the depth, breadth, and transformative power of love in all its forms.

Get a Random Bible Verse About Love

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

God’s Love for Us

The Bible does not describe love as a feeling first — it describes love as something God initiates. 1 John 4:18 says it plainly: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” John 3:16 gives it a scope: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son.” Love in Scripture is active, not sentimental — it gives, it runs, it lays down.

Love in Action

The Gospels show love as something God’s people are commanded to practice. Colossians 3:12 calls believers to “put on” compassion and kindness; Luke 15:20 shows the father in the Prodigal Son story running to embrace his child — a picture of love that does not wait for worthiness; and Luke 19:8 shows Zacchaeus responding to being loved with radical generosity.

Loving Others

These verses point to a love that is real and demanding. If loving others feels impossible right now, that is an honest place to start — name the struggle, pray, and talk with a pastor or counselor you trust. Love is a journey, not a performance.

Bible Verses About Love

  • There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

    1 John 4:18·Verse page·Read context

  • For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

    John 3:16·Verse page·Read context

  • For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Romans 8:38-39·Verse page·Read context

  • By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God's love remain in him?

    1 John 3:16·Verse page·Read context

  • If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

    1 John 4:20·Verse page·Read context

  • "He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

    Luke 15:20·Verse page·Read context

  • Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

    Colossians 3:12·Verse page·Read context

  • Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,

    1 Peter 3:8·Verse page·Read context

  • Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

    Matthew 22:37·Verse page·Read context

  • A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

    John 13:34·Verse page·Read context

  • Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase.

    Proverbs 3:7·Verse page·Read context

  • By David. Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! Praise the LORD, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits, who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,

    Psalms 103:1·Verse page·Read context

  • Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.

    Isaiah 1:16·Verse page·Read context

  • Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much."

    Luke 19:8·Verse page·Read context

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about love?

The Bible identifies love as rooted in God's nature: "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Its most famous verse describes the scope of that love: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son" (John 3:16). But Scripture does not leave love as an abstract idea — it shows love in action: a father running to embrace his prodigal son (Luke 15:20), a rich tax collector giving half his goods to the poor (Luke 19:8), and the greatest commandment: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39).

What is the most famous Bible verse about love?

John 3:16 is probably the best-known single verse, but 1 John 4:18 — "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear" — says it most directly. For practical love, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18, echoed in Matthew 22:39) is the most quoted command. Use the random tool above to explore the full collection.

What does it mean to love your neighbor?

Jesus answered this directly with the Good Samaritan: your neighbor is anyone in need, regardless of background (Luke 10:37). 1 John 3:17-18 makes it concrete: "Whoever has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how does God's love remain in him?" Love is not only feeling — it is action. If loving others feels hard, that is honest; start small, and talk with a pastor or counselor about what getting unstuck might look like.

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