Bible verses about having hatred towards others remind us that hatred is a serious matter in God’s eyes. Scripture consistently warns believers against harboring hatred in their hearts and calls us to choose love instead.
Understanding what the Bible says about having hatred towards others helps us reflect on our own hearts and attitudes. God’s Word offers both correction and hope for those struggling with bitterness or hatred toward others.
Lord, meet and bless every reader here and grant them success in every area of their life.
Bible Verses About Having Hatred Towards Others
1 John 2:9 — “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.”
1 John 3:15 — “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
1 John 4:20 — “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.”
Leviticus 19:17 — “Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart.”
Proverbs 10:12 — “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
Proverbs 15:17 — “Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
Matthew 5:43-44 — “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Romans 12:19 — “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.”
Romans 13:10 — “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Ephesians 4:31 — “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Colossians 3:8 — “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Titus 3:3 — “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.”
Galatians 5:19-20 — “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy.”
Proverbs 26:24-25 — “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.”
James 4:1-2 — “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”
Psalm 97:10 — “Let those who love the Lord hate evil.”
Psalm 139:21-22 — “Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?”
Matthew 6:14-15 — “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Luke 6:27 — “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”
Luke 6:35 — “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”
Romans 12:14 — “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Romans 12:17 — “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”
1 Peter 3:9 — “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.”
Matthew 18:21-22 — “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
Hebrews 12:14-15 — “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble.”
Proverbs 24:17 — “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”
Matthew 5:22 — “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
Proverbs 14:21 — “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 — “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 — “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other.”
Zechariah 8:17 — “Do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this, declares the Lord.”
Ecclesiastes 3:8 — “A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
Romans 12:18 — “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
1 John 4:8 — “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
John 13:34 — “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Proverbs 10:18 — “Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
Micah 6:8 — “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Matthew 22:39 — “And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Psalm 37:8 — “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil.”
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Our Thoughts on What the Bible Says About Having Hatred Towards Others
The Bible is unmistakably clear that hatred toward others is incompatible with a life of faith and love for God. As Christians, we are called to reflect God’s character, and hatred has no place in a heart surrendered to Him.
Choosing to release hatred is not weakness — it is obedience to God and a powerful act of spiritual freedom. For further reading on walking in forgiveness and love, visit Got Questions (https://www.gotquestions.org/what-does-the-Bible-say-about-forgiveness.html).
Say This Prayer
Lord, I come before You and ask You to search my heart. Where hatred or bitterness has taken root, I ask You to uproot it and replace it with Your love. Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me, to love as You have loved me, and to walk in peace with others. Strengthen me daily to choose love over hatred, for Your glory. Amen.
A Single Closing thought on “40 Bible Verses About Having Hatred Towards Others”
This collection of verses truly opened my eyes to how seriously God takes the issue of hatred. I never realized how many scriptures speak directly to this topic — it has convicted and encouraged me at the same time. Thank you for putting this together.
John Carrol is a Christian writer and prayer minister with over a decade of experience in faith-based content, devotional writing, and spiritual encouragement. Rooted in Scripture and a lifelong love of intercessory prayer, John created PrayersFlower to help believers find the right words when their own run out. His writing draws from pastoral study, personal faith practice, and a deep conviction that prayer is the most powerful act available to the human heart. When he is not writing, John is found in quiet study of the Word, mentoring young believers, and serving his local church community.
