Hebrew Word of the Week

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Hebrew Word of the Week

The feminine noun ahavah can describe the love of husband toward wife (Gen 29:20), God's love for his people, (Deut 7:8; II Chr 2:11), and deep abiding friendship (I Sam 18:3; I Sam 20:17).

Proverbs uses ahavah in its most abstract form: "love covers all sins" (Prov 10:12), "better a dinner where love is" (Prov 15:17; cf. Eccl 9:1, 6). The word is also used in the Song of Solomon in several familiar verses. "His banner over me is love" (Song 2:4). "I am sick of love" (Song 2:5; Song 5:8). "Love is strong as death" (Song 8:6). "Many waters cannot quench love" (Song 8:7).

Famous passages in the Nevi'im use this word as well. "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jer 31:3). "I drew them... with bands of love" (Hos 11:4). "And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love mercy" (Mic 6:8), lit. "love of mercy" (ahavat chesed).

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