What does אַהֲבָה (ahavah) mean in the Bible?
".
Hebrew · H160
אַהֲבָה
Love.
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אַהֲבָהH160
Pronunciationahavah
What does אַהֲבָה (ahavah) mean in the Bible?
אַהֲבָה (ahavah) is a Hebrew word meaning "love.".
Full entry for אַהֲבָה (H160) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H160?
The BSB source-word alignment has 38 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include love (10), with love (3), my love (2), your love (2), as he loved (1).
Where does אַהֲבָה (ahavah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 29:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Song Of Solomon (11), Proverbs (5), 1 Samuel (3), 2 Samuel (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itlove10×Proverbs 17:9, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Song Of Solomon 2:4, Song Of Solomon 2:7
with love3×Song Of Solomon 2:5, Song Of Solomon 3:10, Song Of Solomon 5:8
my love2×Psalms 109:4, Psalms 109:5
your love2×2 Samuel 1:26, Jeremiah 2:2
as he loved1×1 Samuel 20:17
because he loved1×1 Samuel 18:3
because of his love1×Genesis 29:20
but love1×Proverbs 10:12
by her love1×Proverbs 5:19
for love1×Song Of Solomon 8:7
In His love1×Isaiah 63:9
in love1×1 Kings 11:2
Love her1×Hosea 3:1
love them1×Hosea 9:15
loved1×Deuteronomy 7:8
loves1×2 Chronicles 2:11
O love1×Song Of Solomon 7:6
of love1×Hosea 11:4
out of love1×1 Samuel 20:17
surpassing the love1×2 Samuel 1:26
than love1×Proverbs 27:5
the love1×2 Samuel 13:15
Their love1×Ecclesiastes 9:6
there is love1×Proverbs 15:17
with His love1×Zephaniah 3:17
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 29:20בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹtobecause of his lovePreposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 7:8מֵֽאַהֲבַ֨תtolovedPreposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct1 Samuel 18:3בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹtobecause he lovedPreposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular1 Samuel 20:17בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹtoout of lovePreposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular1 Samuel 20:17אַהֲבַ֥תtoas he lovedNoun - feminine singular construct2 Samuel 1:26אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙toyour loveNoun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular2 Samuel 1:26מֵאַהֲבַ֖תtosurpassing the lovePreposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct2 Samuel 13:15מֵאַהֲבָ֖הtothe lovePreposition-m | Noun - feminine singular1 Kings 11:2לְאַהֲבָֽה׃toin lovePreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular2 Chronicles 2:11בְּאַהֲבַ֤תtolovesPreposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 29:20
Aligned rows38
Books represented14
Genesis1Deuteronomy11 Samuel32 Samuel31 Kings12 Chronicles1Psalms2Proverbs5Ecclesiastes2Song Of Solomon11Isaiah1Jeremiah3Hosea3Zephaniah1
Source forms
אַהֲבָ֖ה3x’a·hă·ḇāhSong Of Solomon 2:5, Song Of Solomon 5:8, Song Of Solomon 7:6
אַהֲבָ֔ה3x’a·hă·ḇāhSong Of Solomon 3:10, Song Of Solomon 8:6, Hosea 11:4
הָאַהֲבָ֖ה3xhā·’a·hă·ḇāhSong Of Solomon 2:7, Song Of Solomon 3:5, Song Of Solomon 8:4
אַהֲבָ֑ה2x’a·hă·ḇāhProverbs 17:9, Jeremiah 2:33
אַהֲבָֽה׃2x’a·hă·ḇāhProverbs 10:12, Song Of Solomon 2:4
בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ2xbə·’a·hă·ḇā·ṯōwGenesis 29:20, 1 Samuel 20:17
בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ2xbə·’a·hă·ḇā·ṯōw1 Samuel 18:3, Isaiah 63:9
אַהֲבָ֣ה1x’a·hă·ḇāhEcclesiastes 9:1
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular11xProverbs 10:12, Proverbs 17:9, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Song Of Solomon 2:4
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular5xGenesis 29:20, 1 Samuel 18:3, 1 Samuel 20:17, Isaiah 63:9
Article | Noun - feminine singular4xSong Of Solomon 2:7, Song Of Solomon 3:5, Song Of Solomon 8:4, Song Of Solomon 8:7
Noun - feminine singular construct2x1 Samuel 20:17, Jeremiah 2:2
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular2xPsalms 109:4, Psalms 109:5
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular2x2 Samuel 13:15, Proverbs 27:5
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct2xDeuteronomy 7:8, 2 Samuel 1:26
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular1xProverbs 15:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. love.
Source Gloss
love.
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
BDB: love Usage: love.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
affection, covenant loyalty, and goodwill toward another
Showing 1 selected witness from 40 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אַהֲבָה is built from this root:
אַהַבH158
Why This Word Matters
Love seeks restoration rather than retaliation.Proverbs 10:12
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.