Hatred towards others wounds relationships and distances us from God’s design for love and unity. In our broken world, it is easy for bitterness, resentment, and prejudice to take root in the heart. When we allow hatred to grow, we close ourselves off from compassion, grace, and reconciliation that God intends for every person. The Bible addresses hatred clearly and repeatedly. It reveals that hatred not only harms the object of our anger but also poisons our own souls. God calls us to examine our hearts, to confess and turn away from evil attitudes, and to pursue love even in difficult circumstances.
The Bible reveals that hatred often begins with pride, ignorance, or fear. It may arise from past hurts or false beliefs about others. Yet Scripture urges us to replace hatred with empathy, forgiveness, and a desire for restoration. Jesus taught that loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is central to the life of faith. The apostles emphasize that hatred is incompatible with being a follower of Christ. As we study these verses, we will see both warnings about the destructive nature of hatred and guidance for cultivating a heart of love.
These Bible verses help us understand how God views hatred, why we must resist it, and how we can grow in genuine love for others. May they convict, guide, and encourage us to live in the freedom and peace that come from obedience to God’s calling to love.
Bible Verses About Having Hatred Towards Others
1. Leviticus 19:17
“Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.”
2. Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
3. Proverbs 15:17
“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
4. Proverbs 24:17
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”
5. Matthew 5:21-22
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
6. 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.”
7. Luke 6:27-28
“But to you who are listening I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
8. John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
9. Romans 12:9
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
10. Romans 12:17-19
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Do not take revenge… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
11. Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
12. 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, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
13. Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
14. 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.”
15. Colossians 3:12-14
“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other… Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect unity.”
16. 1 Thessalonians 4:18
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
(Context calls believers to comfort and avoid grieving with hatred.)
17. 1 John 2:9-11
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness… whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.”
18. 1 John 3:14-15
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
19. 1 John 4:20-21
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. … And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
20. Jude 1:16
“These people… are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”
(Underlying pride can lead to hatred.)
21. James 2:1-4
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism… If you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothes… and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
(Favoritism can mask hatred toward the less favored.)
22. James 3:14-16
“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly… For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
23. Psalm 97:10
“Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”
(Hate evil but not people.)
24. Psalm 139:21-22
“Would you not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? … I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.”
(David’s prayer shows righteous hatred of evil, not personal vengeance.)
25. Ecclesiastes 3:8
“A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
(Context warns that righteous hatred refers to opposing wickedness.)
26. Proverbs 10:18
“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
27. Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
28. Proverbs 26:24-26
“Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them… their hatred is concealed by deception.”
29. Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.”
(Judgment can foster hatred; Jesus warns against unrighteous judgment.)
30. Matthew 22:37-40
“‘Love the Lord your God… And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
(Commands to love oppose hatred.)
31. Romans 13:8-10
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another… Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
32. Galatians 5:19-21
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition… those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
33. Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
(Cultivating love replaces hatred.)
34. Ephesians 2:14-16
“For he himself is our peace… His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
35. 1 Peter 3:8-9
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Having Hatred Towards Others
Hatred toward others is incompatible with the heart of God and the life of a believer. Scripture makes clear that while we may hate evil, we must not harbor personal hatred that wounds relationships and distances us from God. The Bible distinguishes between righteous hatred of sin and destructive hatred of people. Even when confronted with wrongdoing, we are called to respond with love, forgiveness, and a desire for restoration. Jesus taught that loving enemies and praying for those who persecute us reflects the character of God and extends His grace.
When we struggle with negative feelings toward others, these verses guide us to examine our motives, confess bitterness, and seek God’s transforming love. Cultivating compassion and empathy often requires humility and reliance on the Holy Spirit. As we pursue love instead of hatred, we reflect God’s reconciling work and experience freedom from the burden of anger. Loving others does not mean excusing evil but trusting God to address wrongdoing while we practice grace. May these Scriptures shape our hearts to embody the love that covers a multitude of sins.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess any hatred or bitterness I have harbored toward others. Forgive me for thoughts and attitudes that do not honor You. Replace my heart of resentment with a heart of compassion and empathy. Help me hate evil but love the person You created. Teach me to pray for those who hurt me and to seek reconciliation where possible. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I may bear the fruit of love, forgiveness, and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.