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Bible Dictionaries
Hatred
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
or Hatred, in the sense of a deep-seated ill-feeling towards another person, is condemned as being one of the evil results of sinful human nature. It is the opposite of love and should not be found in the lives of God’s people (Leviticus 19:17; Matthew 5:44; Galatians 5:20; Colossians 3:8; 1 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:20). People whose lives are under the power of sin hate what is good, hate those who are righteous, and hate God (1 Kings 22:8; Psalms 69:4; Micah 3:2; John 3:20; John 15:18; John 15:23-25; John 17:14).
God’s people, by contrast, are not to hate those who hate them, but do them good (Luke 6:27). But they must hate wickedness, just as God hates it (Psalms 97:10; Psalms 119:104; Proverbs 6:16-19; Isaiah 61:8; Hebrews 1:9; Judges 1:23; Revelation 2:6).
Sometimes the Bible uses the word ‘hate’ in a special sense that has nothing to do with either the bitterness or the opposition outlined in the examples above. It is used in a situation where a choice has to be made between two things or two people. One is chosen, or ‘loved’, the other is rejected, or ‘hated’ (Genesis 29:30-31; Malachi 1:2-3; Luke 14:26-27; John 12:25; Romans 9:10-13).
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Fleming, Don. Entry for 'Hatred'. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/bbd/h/hatred.html. 2004.
