Hate; Hatred
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Hate; Hatred in the Bible?
A feeling of strong antagonism and dislike, generally malevolent and prompting to injury, which is often condemned in the Bible but can also be used hyperbolically to express a strong preference.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the biblical treatment of hate clarifies the distinction between prohibited malicious hostility and the culturally accepted expression of strong preference or righteous judgment, aiding in the accurate interpretation of ethical commands and poetic language within the text.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Hate; Hatred. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Hate; Hatred in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Hate; Hatred clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Hate; Hatred." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/hate-hatred/