אַהֲבָה
How to Say Love in Hebrew — Understanding Ahavah (אַהֲבָה)
Learn the Hebrew word for love — Ahavah (אַהֲבָה). Discover how this powerful word reveals God's unconditional, covenantal love throughout Scripture.
The Word: אַהֲבָה (Ahavah)
Ahavah (אַהֲבָה) is the Hebrew word for "love" — one of the most powerful and beautiful words in the entire Bible.
Pronunciation: a-ha-VAH (emphasis on the last syllable)
The Depth of Hebrew Love
Unlike English, which uses one word "love" for everything from pizza to God, Hebrew has a more nuanced approach. Ahavah represents a deep, committed, covenantal love — the kind of love God has for His people.
The root א-ה-ב (aleph-hei-bet) means:
- To give — love is fundamentally about giving, not receiving
- To be devoted — a steadfast commitment
- To desire deeply — not just emotion, but will and action
Ahavah in Scripture
The Greatest Commandment (Deuteronomy 6:5)
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
This verse, part of the Shema, uses the verb form of ahavah — אָהַבְתָּ (ahavta). It commands a love that encompasses every part of our being.
Song of Solomon 8:6
כִּי עַזָּה כַמָּוֶת אַהֲבָה
"For love is as strong as death."
Reflection
Ahavah teaches us that true love is not a feeling that comes and goes — it's a decision, a commitment, and an action. When God says He loves us with an ahavah love, He means it's unconditional, unbreakable, and eternal.
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