Bible verses about love

The Bible describes love as patient, kind and sacrificial, and says it is the greatest of the lasting virtues and the heart of God’s commands.

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”1 Corinthians 13:4-7 · KJV
Verses
15
Key passage
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Translation
King James
Updated
2026-10-27

Love is the most frequent theme in scripture and it is rarely sentimental. These verses move from God’s love for the world to the daily work of loving a neighbour, a spouse or an enemy. Note that the King James Version renders the Greek word for self-giving love as “charity” in 1 Corinthians 13.

01

15 verses about love

01

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 · KJV
02

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 · KJV
03

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

1 John 4:7-8 · KJV
04

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:18-19 · KJV
05

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13 · KJV
06

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39 · KJV
07

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 · KJV
08

“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”

Proverbs 10:12 · KJV
09

“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

Colossians 3:14 · KJV
10

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

1 Peter 4:8 · KJV
11

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Matthew 22:37-39 · KJV
12

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Ephesians 3:17-19 · KJV
13

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

John 13:34-35 · KJV
14

“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”

Song of Solomon 8:7 · KJV
15

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 · KJV
02

Questions

What does the Bible say about love?

The Bible describes love as patient, kind and sacrificial, and says it is the greatest of the lasting virtues and the heart of God’s commands. A good place to start is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Where does the Bible talk most about love?

Key passages include 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, John 3:16, 1 John 4:7-8. This page lists 15 verses from the Old and New Testaments.

Which Bible translation is used?

The King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain in the United States. Other translations use different wording for the same passages.

03

Related topics

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain in the U.S.). Verses were selected by hand. Last reviewed 2026-10-27. See how topics are chosen.