Love in the Tanah
This selection of verses was hand-picked in honour of St. Valentine’s Day for your personal and group reflection and discussion.
Genesis 22:2
“Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
Exodus 34:6
“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…”
Leviticus 19:34
“The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God…”
Numbers 14:18
“’The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’”
Deuteronomy 11:13-22
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today–to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul– then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
Joshua 23:11
“So be very careful to love the LORD your God.”
Judges 5:31
“So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years.”
1 Samuel 20:17
“And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.”
Job 15:34
“For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.”
Psalm 42:8
“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me– a prayer to the God of my life.”
Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.”
Song of Solomon 8:4-8
“Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires… for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. “
Isaiah 66:10
“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her…”
Lamentations 3:32
“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”
Hosea 12:6
“But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.”
Zephaniah 3:17
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
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