Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemies
For the hardest command, these verses give grace to love, bless, and forgive those who hurt you.
The Bible speaks to loving your enemies. Verses such as Luke 6:27, Proverbs 25:21, and Matthew 5:44 speak to it with honesty and hope, and point the heart back to God.
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,”
Luke 6:27“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:”
Proverbs 25:21“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Matthew 5:44“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
1 Peter 3:9“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:”
Proverbs 24:17“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
Proverbs 10:12“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
Proverbs 17:9“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
Luke 6:35“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 13:34“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
1 John 4:11
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Common questions
What does the Bible say about loving your enemies?
The Bible speaks to loving your enemies. Verses such as Luke 6:27, Proverbs 25:21, and Matthew 5:44 speak to it with honesty and hope, and point the heart back to God.
What is the best Bible verse about loving your enemies?
Luke 6:27 is one of the most turned-to verses about loving your enemies, and many also return to Proverbs 25:21 and Matthew 5:44. The best verse is the one that meets you where you are today; read a few slowly and keep the one that steadies you.
What are short Bible verses about loving your enemies?
Short, easy-to-hold verses about loving your enemies include Proverbs 10:12, 1 John 4:11, and Luke 6:27. A single line, read slowly and carried through the day, can quiet a hard moment.
How can I use these Bible verses about loving your enemies?
Read one verse slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words. Keep it somewhere you will see it, and let it be a companion through the day rather than a task to finish.