Love is a central theme in the Bible, and the word itself appears numerous times throughout its pages. However, pinpointing an exact number of mentions can be more complex than it seems, varying across different translations. This is because the English language has a single word, “love,” to cover a wide range of affections, while the original languages of the Bible, Hebrew and Greek, are more nuanced.
Different Bible translations approach the text with varying philosophies, leading to discrepancies in word usage, including “love.” Here’s an approximate count of how often “love” appears in several popular English translations:
- New Living Translation (NLT): 759
- New International Version (NIV): 686
- English Standard Version (ESV): 684
- The Message: 611
- New American Standard Bible (NASB): 479
- King James Version (KJV): 442
It’s interesting to note the King James Version’s count. The KJV, translated in the early 17th century, sometimes uses the word “charity” instead of “love,” particularly when referring to agape love – the highest form of selfless, unconditional love. In fact, “charity” appears roughly 24 times in the King James Bible. The most famous passage highlighting this is 1 Corinthians 13, often referred to as the “love chapter.” This chapter beautifully defines this supreme form of love, culminating in the verse: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and charity; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV).
The variations in counts across translations also stem from the richness of the original biblical languages. While English uses just “love,” the Greek New Testament employs several distinct words to express different facets of love:
- Agápē (ἀγάπη): This refers to selfless, unconditional love, often considered the highest form of love, and is frequently used to describe God’s love for humanity. It is often translated as “charity” in older versions and “love” in modern translations.
- Philía (φιλία): This describes brotherly love, friendship, or affectionate regard between equals. It’s a bond of deep connection and mutual respect.
- Érōs (ἔρως): This represents romantic or passionate love, often associated with desire and attraction. While less frequent in the Bible, it’s acknowledged within the context of marital love.
- Storgē (στοργή): This signifies familial love, the natural affection between parents and children, or within a family unit.
These Greek words offer a far more nuanced understanding of love than the single English term can convey. Translators must make choices about which English word best captures the intended meaning of the original Greek word in each context, leading to some of the differences in the count of “love” across Bible versions.
Therefore, while counting the instances of “love” can be a starting point, understanding the depth and breadth of its meaning in the Bible requires exploring the different forms of love it encompasses and appreciating the richness of the original languages.
