OliveGrove
Pressing the Word of God for Deeper Understanding.
Greek · G5368, G3404, G5590 · unreviewed

φιλέω / μισέω τὴν ψυχήν

To love · to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less · soul

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

φιλέω G5368 to love
Pronunciation philéō
Emotional, affectionate love of friendship and preference, contrasting ἀγαπάω's love of duty and respect
Open lexicon entry →
μισέω G3404 to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less
Pronunciation miséō
To hate intensely; also means to love less or regard as inferior by comparison.
Open lexicon entry →
ψυχή G5590 soul
Pronunciation psychḗ
The animating life-principle that encompasses will, desires, and affections as the seat of personal identity
Open lexicon entry →

What does φιλέω / μισέω τὴν ψυχήν (phileō / miseō tēn psychēn) mean in the Bible?

φιλέω · μισέω · ψυχή is a Greek word meaning "love life / hate life by comparison".

Full entry for φιλέω / μισέω τὴν ψυχήν (G5368, G3404, G5590) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

love life / hate life by comparison
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Present Imperfect Aorist Perfect
Voices
Active
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 6×
Present Active Matt 10:37 · John 12:25 · Rev 22:15 · Luke 20:46 · Titus 3:15 6×
Indicative states a fact or reality 15×
Present Active John 5:20 · John 16:27 · 1 Cor 16:22 · John 11:3 · John 21:17 · John 21:15 · John 21:16 · Matt 6:5 · Matt 23:6 11×
Imperfect Active John 11:36 · John 15:19 · John 20:2 3×
Perfect Active John 16:27 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×
Aorist Active Matt 26:48 · Mark 14:44 2×
Present Active Rev 3:19 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 1×
Aorist Active Luke 22:47 1×
25 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 35 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 5 ongoing 10 prospective 5 resultant 1 background 1 subjunctive 2 infinitive 1 participle 10
Tense
present 21 aorist 6 future 5 perfect 2 imperfect 1
Voice
active 34 passive 1
Mood
indicative 22 participle 10 subjunctive 2 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 5:43 μισήσεις future active indicative prospective Matthew 6:24 μισήσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 24:10 μισήσουσιν future active indicative prospective Luke 1:71 μισούντων present active participle participle Luke 6:22 μισήσωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 6:27 μισοῦσιν present active participle participle Luke 14:26 μισεῖ present active indicative ongoing Luke 16:13 μισήσει future active indicative prospective Luke 19:14 ἐμίσουν imperfect active indicative background John 3:20 μισεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 7:7 μισεῖν present active infinitive infinitive John 7:7 μισεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 12:25 μισῶν present active participle participle John 15:18 μισεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 15:18 μεμίσηκεν perfect active indicative resultant John 15:19 μισεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 15:23 μισῶν present active participle participle John 15:23 μισεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 15:25 Ἐμίσησάν aorist active indicative completed John 17:14 ἐμίσησεν aorist active indicative completed Romans 7:15 μισῶ present active indicative ongoing Romans 9:13 ἐμίσησα aorist active indicative completed Ephesians 5:29 ἐμίσησεν aorist active indicative completed Titus 3:3 μισοῦντες present active participle participle Hebrews 1:9 ἐμίσησας aorist active indicative completed 1 John 2:11 μισῶν present active participle participle 1 John 2:9 μισῶν present active participle participle 1 John 3:13 μισεῖ present active indicative ongoing 1 John 3:15 μισῶν present active participle participle 1 John 4:20 μισῇ present active subjunctive subjunctive Jude 1:23 μισοῦντες present active participle participle Revelation 2:6 μισεῖς present active indicative ongoing Revelation 2:6 μισῶ present active indicative ongoing Revelation 17:16 μισήσουσι future active indicative prospective Revelation 18:2 μεμισημένου perfect passive participle participle

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Cross-Language Connections

Hebrew roots and equivalents that share conceptual or etymological ground with this Greek word.

נֶפֶשׁ nafsho H5315 Related Hebrew
properly, a breathing creature , i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality ; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
רוּחַ rûaḥ H7307 Related Hebrew
wind ; by resemblance breath , i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation ; figuratively, life , anger , unsubstantiality ; by extension, a region of the sky ; by resemblance spirit , but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
חַי ḥay H2416 Related Hebrew
alive ; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong ; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 20 — Paul’s Farewell Charge to Shepherd the Church of God Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 14 — Kingdom Humility, Banquet Mercy, and the Cost of Discipleship Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 6 — The Lord of the Sabbath Forms a Kingdom People Luke 9 — The Christ Revealed, the Cross Announced, and the Jerusalem Road Begun Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly: Bread, Blindness, Confession, Cross, and Discipleship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 6 — Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details