Original Word: אָהַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ahab
Pronunciation: ah-HEB
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-hab')
Definition: To love
Meaning: to have affection f

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G25 (agapao): Often used in the New Testament to describe the selfless, sacrificial love that God has for humanity and that believers are called to emulate.

- G5368 (phileo): Refers to brotherly love or affection, often used to describe the love between friends or family.

Usage: The Hebrew verb "aheb" primarily denotes the concept of love, encompassing a range of meanings from deep affection and friendship to romantic and covenantal love. It is used to describe the love between individuals, such as familial love, friendship, and marital love, as well as the love between God and His people. The term implies a sense of loyalty, commitment, and deep emotional connection.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, love was not merely an emotion but an action-oriented commitment. The concept of love in the Old Testament is deeply intertwined with covenantal relationships, where love is expressed through faithfulness, obedience, and sacrifice. The Hebrew understanding of love often involved a holistic approach, integrating heart, mind, and actions. This is evident in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), where loving God involves the whole being.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to love
NASB Translation
beloved (1), dearly love (1), friend (5), friends (6), love (88), loved (53), lover (1), lovers (16), loves (42), loving (2), show your love (1), shows love (1).

אָהֵב₂₁₆ verb love —

Qal Perfect אָהֵ֑ב Genesis 27:9 7t; אָשֵהבּ Genesis 27:14; אָהַב Genesis 37:3 3t.; אֲֵ˜הבָךָ Deuteronomy 15:16; 3feminine singular אָֽהֲבָה Songs 1:7 +, etc.; Imperfect (הָֿ֑ב) יֶאֱהַב Proverbs 3:12 +; 1 singular אֵהָ֑ב Proverbs 8:17 (compare Ew^{§ 192 d} Ges^{§ 68}. 1); וָָֽאֹהַ֖ב Malachi 1:2; וָאֹהֲבֵהוּ Hosea 11:1; אֹהֲבֵם Hosea 14:5; וָאֹהֲבֵם Psalm 119:167; 2masculine plural תְּאֵהֲבוּ Proverbs 1:22 (compare Kö^{I p. 394} Ges^{§ 63} R 2); תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ Zechariah 8:17; תָּאֱהָבוּן Psalm 4:3; Imperative אֱהַבֿ Hosea 3:1; אֱהָבֶהָ Proverbs 4:6; אֶהֱבוּ Psalm 31:24; Amos 5:15; אֱהָ֑בוּ Zechariah 8:19; Infinitive construct אֱהֹב Ecclesiastes 3:8; אַהֲבָה Deuteronomy 10:12 +; אֲהֲבַת Micah 6:8 + etc.; compare also below

n. אהבה below; Participle אֹהֵב (אוֺהֵב) Deuteronomy 10:18 26t.; feminine construct אֲהֻבַת Hosea 3:1 is probably active compare Ba^{NB 174 ff}; suffix אֹהֲבִי Isaiah 41:8 etc.; feminine אֹהֶ֫בֶת Genesis 25:28; אֹהַ֫בְתִּי Hosea 10:11 etc.; Passive participle אָהוּב Nehemiah 13:26; אֲהוּבָה Deuteronomy 21:15 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 21:16. — love (mostly with accusative, followed by לְ + object Leviticus 19:18,34; 2Chronicles 19:2 (late), followed by בְּ Ecclesiastes 5:9; absolute Ecclesiastes 3:8 & see below), (affection both pure & impure, divine & human); —

1 human love to human object; absolute, opposed to hate שָׂנֵא Ecclesiastes 3:8; of love to son Genesis 22:2; Genesis 25:28; Genesis 37:3,4; Genesis 44:20 (JE) Proverbs 13:24; so also 2 Samuel 13:21 ᵐ5 Ew Th We, compare Dr, of David's loving Amnon; never to parent, but mother-in-law Ruth 4:15; of man's love to woman; wife Genesis 24:67; Genesis 29:20,30 (compare Genesis 29:18):32 (JE), also Deuteronomy 21:15 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 21:16; Judges 14:16; 1 Samuel 1:5; 2Chronicles 11:21; Esther 2:17; Hosea 3:1; Ecclesiastes 9:9; but also Genesis 34:3 (J) Judges 16:4,15; 2 Samuel 13:1,4,15 (where of carnal desire) 1 Kings 11:1 compare 1 Kings 11:2; Hosea 3:1; רֵעַ ׳א loving a paramour, see Ba^{NB 176}; woman's love to man 1 Samuel 18:20 (so 1 Samuel 18:28 ᵑ0, but read וְבִי כָליִֿשְׂרָאֵל אֹהֵב אֹתוֺ ᵐ5 We Dr) Songs 1:3,4,7; Songs 3:1,2,3,4 (5 t. subject נַפְשִׁי); compare also figurative of adulterous Judah Jeremiah 2:25; Isaiah 57:8; Ezekiel 16:37; of love of slave to master Exodus 21:5 (JE) Deuteronomy 15:16; inferior to superior 1 Samuel 18:22 compare 1 Samuel 18:16; love to neighbour Leviticus 19:18 (וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֺ֑ךָ), partic to stranger Leviticus 19:34 (both P), Deuteronomy 10:18,19; love of friend to friend 1 Samuel 16:21; 1 Samuel 18:1,3; 1 Samuel 20:17 (twice in verse); Job 19:19; Proverbs 17:1 compare 2 Samuel 19:7 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 19:2; see also Proverbs 9:8; Proverbs 16:13; compare Proverbs 15:12; see especially Participle below

2 less often of appetite, object food, Genesis 27:7,9,14 (JE); drink Hosea 3:1; Proverbs 21:17; husbandry 2Chronicles 26:10; compare figurative of Ephraim Hosea 10:11 followed by infinitive; length of life Psalm 34:13; of cupidity Hosea 9:1; 1 Samuel 1:23; Ecclesiastes 5:9 (twice in verse); of love of sleep Proverbs 20:13 compare figurative of sluggish watchmen (followed by infinitive) Isaiah 56:10; also with object abstract wisdom (personified), knowledge, righteousness, etc. Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 8:17,21; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 22:11; Proverbs 29:3; Amos 5:15; Micah 6:8 (infinitive "" infinitives) Zechariah 8:19, compare Proverbs 19:8 קֹנֶה לֵב אֹהֵב נַפְשׁוֺ; object folly, evil, etc., Micah 3:2; Micah 4:3; Psalm 11:5; Psalm 52:5; Psalm 52:6; Psalm 109:17; Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 8:36; Proverbs 17:19 (twice in verse), compare Proverbs 18:21; Zechariah 8:17, compare כֵּן ׳א Amos 4:5; Jeremiah 5:3, followed by Infinitive Hosea 12:8; Jeremiah 14:10, especially of idolatry Hosea 4:13 (where strike out הֵבוּ compare Kö^{1. p. 395}) Jeremiah 8:2.

3 love to God Exodus 20:6 (JE) elsewhere Hexateuch only Deuteronomy 5:10; Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 7:9 9t. Deuteronomy + Joshua 22:5; Joshua 23:11; also Judges 5:31; 1 Kings 3:3; Nehemiah 1:5; Daniel 9:4; especially in (late) Psalm 31:24; Psalm 116:1; Psalm 145:20, but usually followed by name, law, etc. of ׳י Psalm 5:12; Psalm 26:8; Psalm 40:17; Psalm 69:37; Psalm 70:5; Psalm 97:10; Psalm 119:47 11t. Psalm 119; compare Isaiah 56:6; compare also of love to Jerusalem Isaiah 66:10; Psalm 122:6.

4 especially Participle אֹהֵב = (a) lover, Lamentations 1:2 (figurative of Jerusalem); (b) friend Hiram of David 1 Kings 5:15, compare Jeremiah 20:4,6; Esther 5:10,14; Esther 6:13; Psalm 38:12 ("" רֵעַ) so Psalm 88:19, Proverbs 14:20; also Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 27:6; Abraham of God Isaiah 41:8; 2Chronicles 20:7.

5 of divine love (a) to individual men Deuteronomy 4:37; 2 Samuel 12:24; Proverbs 3:12; Proverbs 15:9; Psalm 146:8; Nehemiah 13:26; (b) to people Israel, etc. Deuteronomy 7:8,13; Deuteronomy 23:6; Hosea 3:1; Hosea 9:15; Hosea 11:1; Hosea 14:5; 1 Kings 10:9; 2Chron 2:10; 2 Chronicles 9:8; Isaiah 43:4; Isaiah 48:14; Jeremiah 31:3; Malachi 1:2 (3 t. in verse); Psalm 47:5; to Jerusalem Psalm 78:68; Psalm 87:2; (c) to righteousness, etc. Psalm 11:7; Psalm 33:5; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 45:8; Psalm 99:4; Isaiah 61:8; Malachi 2:11.

Niph`al Participle plural הַנֶּאֱהָבִים 2 Samuel 1:23 lovely, loveable of Saul & Jonath. ("" הַנְּעִימִם).

Pi`el Participle plural suffix (בָֿ֑י) מְאַהֲבַי Hosea 2:7 3t.; (בָֿ֑יִח) מְאַהֲבַיִח Jeremiah 22:20 6t.; מְאַהֲבֶיהָ Hosea 2:9 4t.

1 friends Zechariah 13:6;

2 lovers in figure of adulterous Israel Hosea 2:7; Hosea 2:9; Hosea 2:12; Hosea 2:14; Hosea 2:15; Ezekiel 23:5,9; Judah Jeremiah 22:20,22; Jeremiah 30:14; Lamentations 1:19; Ezekiel 16:33,36,37; Ezekiel 23:22.

beloved like, friend

Or raheb {aw-habe'}; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) -- (be-)love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.

אֱ‍ֽהַב־ אֱהָֽבוּ׃ אֱהָבֶ֥הָ אֲהֵֽבְךָ֖ אֲהֵֽבְךָ֙ אֲהֵב֑וּךָ אֲהֵב֔וֹ אֲהֵב֜וּם אֲהֵבַ֙תֶךְ֙ אֲהֵבַֽתְהוּ׃ אֲהֵבָ֑הּ אֲהֵבָֽהּ׃ אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃ אֲהֵבֽוּךָ׃ אֲהַבְתִּ֑יךָ אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ אֲהַבְתֶּם֙ אֲהַבְתָּ֑נוּ אֲהַבְתָּ֔נִי אֲהֻ֥בַת אֲהוּבָה֙ אֵהָ֑ב אֶֽהֱב֥וּ אָ֝הַ֗בְתִּי אָ֣הֲבוּ אָ֫הֵ֥ב אָ֭הַבְתִּי אָֽהֲבוּ֙ אָהֲב֥וּ אָהֵ֑ב אָהֵ֔ב אָהֵ֣ב אָהֵ֥ב אָהֵֽב׃ אָהַ֔בְתְּ אָהַ֗בְתָּ אָהַ֙בְתִּי֙ אָהַ֙בְתָּ֙ אָהַ֛בְתִּי אָהַ֞ב אָהַ֣בְתִּי אָהַ֣בְתָּ אָהַ֤ב אָהַ֤בְתִּי אָהַ֥בְתְּ אָהַ֥בְתִּי אָהַ֥בְתָּ אָהַב֙ אָהָ֑בְתִּי אָהָ֗בְתִּי אָהָֽבְתִּי׃ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב אֹ֝הֲבֵ֗י אֹ֝הֵ֗ב אֹ֣הֲבֶ֔יךָ אֹ֣הֲבָ֔יו אֹ֣הֵֽב אֹ֭הֵב אֹֽ֝הֲבֵ֗י אֹֽהֲבִים֙ אֹֽהֲבַ֨י ׀ אֹֽהֲבָ֗יו אֹֽהַבְךָ֖ אֹהֲבִֽי׃ אֹהֲבֵ֖י אֹהֲבֵ֖ם אֹהֲבֵ֥י אֹהֲבֶ֑יהָ אֹהֲבֶ֑יךָ אֹהֲבֶ֗יךָ אֹהֲבַ֣י אֹהֲבַ֥י ׀ אֹהֲבָ֑יו אֹהֲבָ֖יו אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃ אֹהֵ֖ב אֹהֵ֗ב אֹהֵ֣ב אֹהֵ֥ב אֹהֵֽב׃ אֹהֶ֥בֶת אֹהַ֣בְתִּי אהב א‍הב־ אהב׃ אהבה אהבה׃ אהבו אהבו׃ אהבוך אהבוך׃ אהבום אהבי אהבי׃ אהביה אהביו אהביך אהביך׃ אהבים אהבך אהבם אהבת אהבתהו׃ אהבתי אהבתי׃ אהבתיך אהבתך אהבתם אהבתנו אהבתני אהובה אוֹהֵ֑ב אוהב בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ באהבתו הֵב֛וּ הַנֶּאֱהָבִ֤ים הָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔ה הָאֲהוּבָ֖ה האהובה הבו הנאהבים וְ֝אֹהֲב֗וֹ וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ וְאֶ֣הֱבוּ וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ וְאָה֤וּב וְאָהַבְתָּ֥ וְאֹ֣הֲבֵי וְאֹ֣הֲבָ֔יו וְאֹהֲבֵ֖י וְאֹהֲבֵ֥י וְאֹהֵ֣ב וְיֶאֱהָבֶֽךָּ׃ וַאֲהֵ֣בְךָ֔ וַאֲהַבְתֶּ֖ם וַיֶּֽאֱהַב֙ וַיֶּאֱהַ֣ב וַיֶּאֱהַ֤ב וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב וַיֶּאֱהַ֨ב וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֣הֽוּ וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֖הָ וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֥הוּ וַתֶּאֱהַ֛ב וָאֹהֲבֵ֑הוּ וָאֹהֲבֵ֥ם וָאֹהַ֖ב וּֽלְאַהֲבָה֙ וּֽמְאַהֲבַ֖יִךְ וּלְאַהֲבָ֣ה ואהב ואהבהו ואהבו ואהבי ואהביה ואהביו ואהבך ואהבם ואהבת ואהבתם ואהוב ויאהב ויאהבה ויאהבהו ויאהבך׃ ולאהבה ומאהביך ותאהב יֶאֱהַ֣ב יֶאֱהַב־ יֶאֱהָֽב׃ יֶאֱהָבַ֥נִי יאהב יאהב־ יאהב׃ יאהבני כְּאָהֳבָֽם׃ כאהבם׃ לְ֠אַהֲבָה לְאַֽהֲבָה֙ לְאַהֲבָ֖ה לְאַהֲבָ֞ה לְאַהֲבָ֣ה לְאֹהֲבֵ֣י לְאֹהֲבֵ֥י לְאֹהֲבַ֖י לְאֹהֲבָ֖יו לְאֹהֲבָ֛יו לֶֽאֱהֹב֙ לַֽמְאַהֲבַי֙ לאהב לאהבה לאהבי לאהביו למאהבי מְאַֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ מְאַֽהֲבַ֔יִךְ מְאַֽהֲבָ֑י מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ מְאַהֲבֶ֔יהָ מְאַהֲבֶ֙יהָ֙ מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙ מְאַהֲבַ֣יִךְ מְאַהֲבַי֙ מְאַהֲבָ֑יִךְ מְאַהֲבָֽיִךְ׃ מְאַהֲבָֽי׃ מאהבי מאהבי׃ מאהביה מאהביך מאהביך׃ שֶׁ֤אָהֲבָה֙ שֶׁאָהֲבָ֖ה שֶׁאָהֲבָ֥ה שאהבה תְּֽאֵהֲב֫וּ תֶּֽאֱהַ֣ב תֶּאֱהָ֑ב תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ תֶּאֱהָב֣וּן תאהב תאהבו תאהבון ’ā·hā·ḇə·tî ’ā·hă·ḇū ’ā·haḇ ’ā·haḇ·tā ’ă·haḇ·tā·nî ’ă·haḇ·tā·nū ’ă·haḇ·tem ’ā·haḇ·tî ’ă·haḇ·tî·ḵā ’ă·haḇ·tîḵ ’ā·haḇt ’ă·hê·ḇa·ṯeḵ ’ă·hê·ḇāh ’ă·hê·ḇaṯ·hū ’ă·hê·ḇə·ḵā ’ă·hê·ḇōw ’ă·hê·ḇū·ḵā ’ă·hê·ḇūm ’ā·hêḇ ’ă·hū·ḇāh ’ă·hu·ḇaṯ ’āhaḇ ’āhāḇətî ’āhaḇt ’āhaḇtā ’ăhaḇtānî ’ăhaḇtānū ’ăhaḇtem ’āhaḇtî ’ăhaḇtîḵ ’ăhaḇtîḵā ’āhăḇū ’āhêḇ ’ăhêḇāh ’ăhêḇaṯeḵ ’ăhêḇaṯhū ’ăhêḇəḵā ’ăhêḇōw ’ăhêḇūḵā ’ăhêḇūm ’ăhūḇāh ’ăhuḇaṯ ’ĕ·hā·ḇe·hā ’ĕ·hā·ḇū ’ê·hāḇ ’e·hĕ·ḇū ’êhāḇ ’ĕhaḇ- ’ĕhāḇehā ’ĕhāḇū ’ehĕḇū ’ō·hă·ḇā·yiḵ ’ō·hă·ḇāw ’ō·hă·ḇay ’ō·hă·ḇê ’ō·hă·ḇe·hā ’ō·hă·ḇe·ḵā ’ō·hă·ḇêm ’ō·hă·ḇî ’ō·hă·ḇîm ’ō·haḇ·ḵā ’ō·haḇ·tî ’ō·he·ḇeṯ ’ō·hêḇ ’ō·w·hêḇ ’ōhăḇāw ’ōhăḇay ’ōhăḇāyiḵ ’ōhăḇê ’ōhăḇehā ’ōhăḇeḵā ’ōhăḇêm ’ōhăḇî ’ōhăḇîm ’ōhaḇḵā ’ōhaḇtî ’ōhêḇ ’ōheḇeṯ ’ōwhêḇ aHav aHaveti aHavt aHavta ahavTani ahavTanu ahavTem aHavti ahavTich ahavTicha Ahavu aHev aheVah aheVatech aheVathu aheveCha aheVo aheVucha aheVum ahuVah aHuvat bə’ahăḇāṯōw bə·’a·hă·ḇā·ṯōw beahavaTo eHav ehaVeha eHavu eheVu hā’ăhūḇāh hā·’ă·hū·ḇāh haahuVah han·ne·’ĕ·hā·ḇîm hanne’ĕhāḇîm hanneehaVim hê·ḇū hêḇū heVu kə’āhoḇām kə·’ā·ho·ḇām keohoVam lam’ahăḇay lam·’a·hă·ḇay lamahaVai lə’ahăḇāh le’ĕhōḇ lə’ōhăḇāw lə’ōhăḇay lə’ōhăḇê lə·’a·hă·ḇāh le·’ĕ·hōḇ lə·’ō·hă·ḇāw lə·’ō·hă·ḇay lə·’ō·hă·ḇê leahaVah leeHo leohaVai leohaVav leohaVei mə’ahăḇay mə’ahăḇāy mə’ahăḇayiḵ mə’ahăḇāyiḵ mə’ahăḇehā mə·’a·hă·ḇa·yiḵ mə·’a·hă·ḇā·yiḵ mə·’a·hă·ḇay mə·’a·hă·ḇāy mə·’a·hă·ḇe·hā meahaVai meahaVayich meahaVeiha ohaVai ohaVav ohaVayich ohavCha ohaVei ohaVeicha ohaVeiha ohaVem ohaVi ohaVim oHavti oHev oHevet še’āhăḇāh še·’ā·hă·ḇāh sheahavah te’ĕhaḇ te’ĕhāḇ te’ĕhāḇū tə’êhăḇū te’ĕhāḇūn te·’ĕ·hā·ḇū tə·’ê·hă·ḇū te·’ĕ·hā·ḇūn te·’ĕ·haḇ te·’ĕ·hāḇ teeHav teehaVu teehaVun ū·lə·’a·hă·ḇāh ū·mə·’a·hă·ḇa·yiḵ ūlə’ahăḇāh uleahaVah ūmə’ahăḇayiḵ umeahaVayich vaahavTem vaaHevecha vaiyeeHav vaiyeehaVeha vaiyeehaVehu vaoHav vaohaVehu vaohaVem vatteeHav veahavTa veaHuv veEhevu veOhaVav veohaVei veohaVeiha veohaVo veoHev veyeehaVeka wa’ăhaḇtem wa’ăhêḇəḵā wā’ōhaḇ wā’ōhăḇêhū wā’ōhăḇêm wa·’ă·haḇ·tem wa·’ă·hê·ḇə·ḵā wā·’ō·hă·ḇê·hū wā·’ō·hă·ḇêm wā·’ō·haḇ wat·te·’ĕ·haḇ watte’ĕhaḇ way·ye·’ĕ·hā·ḇe·hā way·ye·’ĕ·hā·ḇê·hū way·ye·’ĕ·haḇ wayye’ĕhaḇ wayye’ĕhāḇehā wayye’ĕhāḇêhū wə’āhaḇtā wə’āhūḇ wə’ehĕḇū wə’ōhăḇāw wə’ōhăḇê wə’ōhăḇehā wə’ōhăḇōw wə’ōhêḇ wə·’ā·haḇ·tā wə·’ā·hūḇ wə·’e·hĕ·ḇū wə·’ō·hă·ḇāw wə·’ō·hă·ḇê wə·’ō·hă·ḇe·hā wə·’ō·hă·ḇōw wə·’ō·hêḇ wə·ye·’ĕ·hā·ḇe·kā wəye’ĕhāḇekā ye’ĕhaḇ ye’ĕhāḇ ye’ĕhaḇ- ye’ĕhāḇanî ye·’ĕ·hā·ḇa·nî ye·’ĕ·haḇ ye·’ĕ·hāḇ ye·’ĕ·haḇ- yeeHav yeehaVaniInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts