Hatred graphic from Carole C. Good accessed August 25, 2014.

Preface:    The Bible defines hatred as a mental attitude sin; however, this topic is far more complex than that.

Quotations on Hatred:

 

Martin Luther King Jr., (from A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.): Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.

 

Gena Showalter (from Seduce the Darkness): I don't hate you...I just don't like that you exist.

 

Dhammapada quotation from Art, Beauty, Life; accessed July 18, 2014.

Maya Angelou: Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.

 

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Never waste a minute thinking about people you don't like.

Graphic from IZQuotes, accessed August 25, 2014.

 

 

 

Romans 9:13 It stands written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Mal. 1:2–3)

 

1John 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (ESV)

 

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (ESV)

 

Since I began to regularly insert quotations on various topics, I have come to find that the best quotations nearly always come out of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, verses are quoted from the ESV, capitalized. Bolded words represent my emphasis.

1.      Definition of hatred:

         1)      ISBE’s definition: A feeling of strong antagonism and dislike, generally malevolent and prompting to injury (the opposite of love); sometimes born of moral resentment.

         2)      ZPEB: [Hatred is] an intense aversion or active hostility that is expressed in settled opposition to a person or thing. Generally speaking, this is a mental attitude sin expressed by one man (or a group of men) toward another man (or group of men). John 15:18–24

         3)      From Dictionary.com: [Hatred is] the feeling of one who hates; intense dislike or extreme aversion or hostility.

2.      Hebrew vocabulary:

         1)      The strongest Hebrew verb for hate is sâţam (שָׂטַם) [pronounced saw-TAHM], which means to hate; to oppose; to bear a grudge, to retain [or, cherish] animosity, to be against; to lay snares [for someone], to lay a trap, to follow with hostility. Strong’s #7852 BDB #966.

                  (1)     It is found in Gen. 27:41, which reads: Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob." Esau nursed this hatred, and had hoped to turn it into murder.

                  (2)     Joseph’s brothers were worried that he would hate them and take retribution on them after their father died in Gen. 50:15. Their concern is that he would parlay his hatred (which they supposed he had, but he didn’t) into murder as well. Related to this is this same word found in Gen. 49:23, where Jacob, in his final words to Joseph, spoke of others (archers) attacking him out of hatred. It reads: The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and carried animosity against him. (VW)

                  (3)     Job associated all of the pain he was enduring with God hating him in Job 16:7–9. Job 30:21 seems to be directed at his friends. David associated this word with his enemies opposing him.

         2)      The second verb is sânêʾ (שָׂנֵא) [pronounced saw-NAY], which means, to hate, loath; to be hateful, to be filled with animosity. ISBE gives the meanings as: A feeling of strong antagonism and dislike, generally malevolent and prompting to injury (the opposite of love); sometimes born of moral resentment. Strong’s #8130 BDB #971.

                  (1)     This word was used in a blessing, that Rebekah’s descendants my possess the gate of those who hate him. Gen. 24:60

                  (2)     Isaac used this verb (the weaker verb) to refer to Abimelech, who sent Isaac away from his land. Isaac knew that Abimelech did not hate him, but he acted as if he did in order to placate his people. Gen. 26:16, 27

                  (3)     Leah is called the hated wife of Jacob (Gen. 29:31, 33). Now, since they were having sex, this would suggest that Jacob did not actually hate her.

                  (4)     Jacob played favorites, and loved his son Joseph more than the others. Joseph’s older brothers came to hate him because of this. In this situation, the emotions of the brothers were strong enough to act, to sell Joseph into slavery. Gen. 37:4–8

                  (5)     When a man has two wives, one is loved and the other is hated, according to Deut. 21:15. This simply means that the man prefers one wife over the other.

                  (6)     This word can be used for an intense hatred, as long as it is so qualified. 2Sam. 13:15

                  (7)     This word is translated enemy as a participle, and we are to treat our enemies fairly. If they are hungry, we are to feed them; if they are thirsty, we are to give them drink. Prov. 25:21

         3)      The feminine noun cognate for the verb above is sin^eʾâh (שְִׂאָה) [pronounced sihn-AW], which means hate, hating, hatred. Strong’s #8135 BDB #971.

                  (1)     When a person is murdered because of hatred, that is first degree murder in the Bible, and it is punishable by death. When hatred is not a motivating factor, but death is caused accidentally, then it is involuntary homicide, which does not require an execution. A trial is often necessary in order to determine whether there was the motivation of hatred of not. Num. 35:20–28

                  (2)     Amnon, one of David’s degenerate sons, lusted after his half-sister. After raping her, his sexual lust turned to hatred, and both the verb above and this noun is used to describe how he felt about her. 2Sam. 13:15

                  (3)     King David was often made the object of hatred because of his political power. In Psalm 109:1–5, he records this hatred in such a way as to be a type of Christ.

                  (4)     Hatred can certain motivate strife and disagreements. Prov. 10:12

                  (5)     Some people disguise their hatred with lies and deception. Prov. 10:18 26:24–26

                  (6)     It is better to eat salad in a house where there is love than to eat steak in a house filled with hatred. Prov. 15:17

                  (7)     God would destroy the Edomites (the descendants of Esau) for their hatred toward the Jews. Ezek. 35:6–15

3.      Therefore, the first Hebrew word is most closely associated with murder or extreme pain and suffering. The second Hebrew verb is associated with actions taken against the hated person, but this is not always seen as murderous intent.

4.      There are exceptions to this. Absalom bore hatred for Amnon for raping his sister, but kept it quiet until he had the opportunity to kill Amnon. 2Sam. 13:22

5.      Greek vocabulary:

         1)      The verb miseô (μισέω) [pronounced mihs-EH-oh], which means, to hate, pursue with hatred, detest; to be hated, detested. Thayer definitions only. Strong’s #3404. New Testament references will be this word.

         2)      The feminine noun echthra (ἔ́χθρα) [pronounced EHKH-thrah], which means, enmity; cause of enmity; hatred, animosity. Thayer definitions only. Strong’s #2189.

                  (1)     This word is used once to refer to a sin in Gal. 5:20 (translated enmity in the ESV).

                  (2)     It is used to say that love of the cosmic system is equivalent to hatred for God. James 4:4

                  (3)     Similarly, the flesh is hostile towards God. Rom. 8:7

                  (4)     God is hostile toward us; but His hostility is removed by the cross. Eph. 3:15–16

6.      Hatred is clearly condemned in Scripture, in both Testaments.

         1)      You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Lev. 19:17–18; emphasis mine) This is both a condemnation of an Israelite hating another Israelite; but the underlying concept is, two people who have placed their trust in God should not hate one another.

         2)      1John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

         3)      Paul includes hatred under the works of the flesh. Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19–21; WEB; emphasis mine)

         4)      See also Prov. 10:12 26:24–26 Titus 3:3

7.      Hatred is closely associated with murder and condemned by God. Matt. 5:21 1John 3:15

8.      A killing where hatred was not involved was not considered 1^st degree murder under the Israel economy, and such an accidental death may result in a pardon. Deut. 4:42 19:4–6 Joshua 20:5

9.      It is a mistake to say that Jesus modified the Old Testament teaching of hatred. Jesus lived under the Law perfectly and He taught the Law of God throughout the first half of His ministry. Doing good to those who hate you personally (Matt. 5:43 Luke 6:27) is not a modification of the Law of Moses, but a clarification of it. To give you a modern-day example, in war, we are to kill our enemies; and we should execute murderers. However, this should not prevent us from bringing the gospel and Bibles to an enemy country and this should not prevent one from witnessing to a condemned killer.

10.    Hatred can be directed toward God and the Word of God. The idea is, this is negative volition toward the truth. Prov. 1:29

11.    Hatred as an anthropopathism:

         1)      God hates idolatry. This is known as an anthropopathism, where an emotion of man is ascribed to God to explain His actions or, in this case, His disapprobation. Deut. 12:31 16:22

         2)      God hates those who hate Israel. Psalm 139:21–22

         3)      God hated Israel when their feasts and celebrations were false. Isa. 1:14

         4)      God is said to love Jacob but hate Esau. This merely distinguishes between the line or promise and the genealogical line that goes nowhere. Mal. 1:3 Rom. 9:13

         5)      Men do not know their future, and if God will show love or hatred toward them. Eccles. 9:1

         6)      ZPEB explains this in a slightly different way: God must not be understood to act on the human plane of anger and hostility. It must likewise be recognized that the Hebrew thought-form makes no sharp distinction between the individual and his deeds. A man in Hebrew thought is the sum total of the actions of his life, so that to say God hated a man is not to say that God was maliciously disposed toward a particular personality, but to note divine opposition to evil that was registered in that life. In connection with Esau, “hate” had a very colorless sense, being almost equivalent to the acknowledgment of a divine selectivity. Jacob He chose and Esau He rejected.

         7)      One needs to bear in mind that Jesus died for all men—not just those who choose to believe in Him—therefore, divine love is expressed toward all mankind. Recall that when Jesus said, “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”; He was speaking of those assaulting Him, cursing Him, and lying about Him so that He would be crucified. He paid for the sins of the disciple John and his mother Mary; but also for Pilate, for those who cursed Him, for the men who nailed His hands and feet to the cross, and for the thieves on the crosses on both sides of Him.

12.    Hatred where hatred is not meant:

         1)      This same sort of approach is applied to believers. Disciples were told to hate their mother and father and other relatives. This does not mean that we actually should hate our parents (or children, or whatever). It means that Jesus should be far higher on the scale of values to His disciples. Matt. 10:37 Luke 14:26

         2)      The father who does not discipline his child hates that child (Prov. 13:24). This does not mean that parent literally hates his child; but it means that he is bringing up his child wrong and will, in the long run, cause his child harm by not disciplining him when he needs it.

         3)      The believer is to hate lies, and bribes and other sins. Psalm 5:5 97:10 Prov. 13:5 15:27 28:6

         4)      David says that he hates those who hate Y^ehowah; and that he hates (verb) them with a perfect hatred (noun cognate). The concept here is disapprobation; and one could argue that this extends to those on constant negative signals toward God (like a Muslim terrorist of today). Psalm 139:21–22

         5)      Whoever loves his life will lose it and whoever hates his life in this world will retain it for eternal life. (John 12:25; off the cuff translation). This does not mean that we spend every waking moment hating our lives and wishing we were dead. Mature believers, generally speaking, have wonderful lives. However, life for us is temporary and important, and death is inevitable and a promotion. As Paul wrote, To live is Christ and to die is gain (Philip. 1:21b; NIV). Paul did not hate his life; nor was he suicidal. But, because of his relationship to God and because of his understanding of life, he was fearless in life.

13.    Moses interceded on behalf of the children of Israel, so that other peoples would not say that God took them out into the desert and killed them out of hatred. Deut. 9:23–29

14.    Hating someone is not a good enough reason to not pay them back a debt. Deut. 7:10

15.    Believers who are out of line and corrected by God sometimes hate God or hate the discipline given them (Psalm 50:7, 17 Prov. 5:12). People who hate reproof are stupid (Prov. 12:1).

16.    Solomon, when operating outside of the spiritual life, and was involved in many building projects and other acts of human good, was frustrated by the results and hated this work, in part because he would leave it to someone else who would be a slacker. Eccles. 2:17–18

17.    The world (that is, the cosmic system) hates Jesus Christ and it hates believers. Matt. 10:22 John 7:7 15:17–18 17:14 1John 3:13

18.    The world hates Jesus without a cause. John 15:24–25

19.    The wicked hate the light because it exposes their evil deeds. John 3:20

20.    However, we are not to pay back those who have wronged us with evil, but with good. Rom. 12:17–21 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." See also Luke 6:27

21.    As an aside, when we are told to love our enemies, this does not mean that we send weapons and supplies to Muslim extremists who would kill us (like ISIS). Jesus is primarily referring to personal enemies. In war, we look to destroy our enemies until they give up; after which, we are to treat our enemies fairly and with compassion (as we did in Japan after WWII). Truman’s decision to bomb Japan with atomic weapons was a sound decision; MacArthur’s decision to call for Bibles and missionaries in Japan after they surrendered was also a sound decision. Liberals and confused Christians do not understand that, because God has entrusted the United States with great wealth and the greatest military in human history, this is a responsibility and something that we must employ from time to time. I have heard on so many occasions, people complaining about Iraq and saying, “What do you want us to do; leave troops in Iraq forever?” The simple answer to that question is, “Yes.” Our troops in Korea have been there for 65 years, and has prevented a nation run by nutball dictators (North Korea) in check; and has prevented communist attacks against a noble nation (South Korea).

22.    As would be expected, liberalism has distorted the concept of hatred.

         1)      Even the Merriam-Webster dictionary tries to paint hatred as primarily a racial issue. On that page, we read.

Full Definition of HATRED

                  1       hate

                  2       prejudiced hostility or animosity <old racial prejudices and national hatreds - Peter Thomson>

         2)      Although liberalism condemns whites hating blacks (or browns), it encourages hatred of blacks and browns towards whites (in order to gain votes). So the prejudice of blacks and browns is strengthened (or, at the very least, written off as understandable); whereas any prejudice expressed in the other direction (real or trumped up) is condemned with the greatest ferocity. As I write this in 2014, a policeman who shot an unarmed black man is being threatened with his life, even though the facts of the case are not yet known. The policeman is most often dishonestly portrayed as some white cop with a grudge against black men, so he thought he would just shoot one.

         3)      The so-called 99% are encouraged to hate the 1%, who represent the richest men in our society.

         4)      What is really going on is communist, socialist and statist forces are at work so that the federal government takes control of all or most of the economy. Sowing division among the population is used in order to gain more power. Those who make up the 99% or who are women or minorities, are made to think that, somehow, they got the short end of the stick, and that they need to reclaim their wealth. But the key is how. They reclaim the wealth that was taken from them by supporting a stronger, more powerful government, which can then redistribute the wealth in a more fair and equitable way. In the history of socialism, this never really occurs. The powerful become more powerful, and they become able to take a great deal more wealth from those who pay taxes. Some of this is used to pay off their voters; much is used to pay off their donors and bundlers; and much is kept for themselves.