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How many times does the Bible mention love?

The word "love" — as noun and verb — appears approximately 300 to 700 times in English Bibles, depending on the translation. The variance is unusually high because the underlying Hebrew (*ahav, hesed*) and Greek (*agapē, philia, phileō*) vocabulary covers a wider semantic range than the single English word, and translation choices differ.

The finding

550+

mentions of "love (the noun and verb)"

approximately; varies substantially by translation

A wide range

The English word “love” appears in the Bible with widely varying frequency depending on the translation:

  • KJV: approximately 310 occurrences of “love” (noun and verb combined).
  • NIV: approximately 550 occurrences.
  • NLT: approximately 750 occurrences.

The variance is unusually wide for a single English word. It is driven by translation philosophy: dynamic-equivalence translations (NLT, NIV) render a broader range of Hebrew and Greek words with “love” than formal-equivalence translations (KJV, NASB) do.

The underlying vocabulary

Hebrew:

  • ahav (אָהַב, “to love”): about 250 occurrences.
  • hesed (חֶסֶד, “loyal love, steadfast love, kindness”): about 246 occurrences. Often rendered “loving-kindness” in older translations, “steadfast love” in some modern ones.
  • dod (דּוֹד, “beloved”): used about 60 times, mostly in the Song of Songs.

Greek:

  • agapē (ἀγάπη, noun) and agapaō (ἀγαπάω, verb): about 320 occurrences in the NT.
  • philia (φιλία) and phileō (φιλέω): about 30 occurrences.
  • storgē (στοργή, familial affection): rare in the NT itself but discussed in Christian tradition.

The often-cited claim that Greek has “four words for love” is partly true and partly inherited from C. S. Lewis. Eros (sexual love) does not appear as a noun in the NT, though it is present in classical Greek.

Where love concentrates

The Pentateuch, Deuteronomy especially, frames God’s covenant relationship with Israel in love-language. The Song of Songs is concentrated love-poetry. The Johannine literature (Gospel of John, 1 John) contains the densest use of agapē in the NT.

Related curiosities

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The popular "365 times" claim is folklore. Careful counts give about 100–110 commands not to fear across the Bible.

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How many times are angels mentioned in the Bible?

About 290 mentions of angels across English Bibles. Both Hebrew malach and Greek angelos mean "messenger" — divine or human.

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How many times does the Bible mention covenant?

About 320 occurrences. Hebrew berit (286 in OT) and Greek diathēkē (33 in NT) — the central organising concept of biblical theology.