אַהֲבָה
Ahavah
Love
When the Bible commands 'Love the LORD your God with all your heart' in Deuteronomy 6:5, the Hebrew word is ahavah (אַהֲבָה). This single word carries the full weight of divine romance, sacrificial devotion, and covenant commitment. In Hebrew, the numerical value (gematria) of ahavah is 13 — the same as 'echad' (one), hinting that love creates unity. Unlike English, which uses one word for everything from pizza to God, Hebrew distinguishes between types of love. Ahavah is the deepest kind — the love that gives everything, expects nothing, and never lets go. It's the love of the Shema, the Song of Solomon, and the cross.
“Love (ahavah) the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Etymology & Root Letters
Ahavah comes from the root א-ה-ב (aleph-he-bet). Some scholars connect it to the idea of 'giving' — true love in Hebrew is fundamentally about giving of oneself, not receiving.
How Ahavah Is Used in Scripture
Ahavah and its verb form 'ahav' appear over 250 times in the Hebrew Bible. It describes God's love for Israel (Deuteronomy 7:8), romantic love (Song of Solomon), love between friends (1 Samuel 18:1), and the command to love your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18).
Cultural & Modern Context
In Hebrew, the numerical value (gematria) of ahavah is 13 — the same as 'echad' (one). This hints that love creates unity. The phrase 'Ahavat Olam' (Everlasting Love) is a key prayer in Jewish liturgy.
How to Use Ahavah in Prayer
Pray with ahavah when expressing love for God. The Shema commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength — ahavah is not passive emotion but active, wholehearted devotion.
People Also Ask About Ahavah
What is the difference between ahavah and chesed in Hebrew?
Ahavah is love as deep emotion and devotion — the love commanded in the Shema. Chesed is love as loyal covenant action — God's steadfast, never-failing commitment. You could say ahavah is the heart of love, and chesed is the hands of love. Both are essential: ahavah without chesed is feeling without action; chesed without ahavah is duty without passion.
Why does ahavah equal 13 in Hebrew gematria?
In Hebrew numerology (gematria), each letter has a numerical value. Ahavah (אַהֲבָה) equals 1+5+2+5 = 13. Remarkably, echad (one/unity) also equals 13. This is seen as deeply meaningful: love (ahavah) creates oneness (echad). Two thirteens together equal 26 — the numerical value of God's name YHWH — suggesting that when two loves unite, God is present.
Deeper Study: Blog Posts About Ahavah
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