These bible verses about love show what love looks like in practice — patient, faithful, forgiving and active. Whether you are writing a wedding card, preparing a devotion, comforting a friend or simply want to be reminded that you are loved by God, you will find the right verse below, grouped by theme with a short note on what each one means.
All verses are quoted from the King James Version (KJV), where the word charity means selfless love (the Greek agape).
The Most Famous Bible Verses About Love
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 – “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
The classic wedding reading: love is defined by what it does, not how it feels.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The heart of the gospel: love measured by what was given.
1 John 4:8 – “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
1 John 4:19 – “We love him, because he first loved us.”
Bible Verses About God’s Love for You
Romans 8:38–39 – “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing you face can cut you off from God’s love.
Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jeremiah 31:3 – “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Zephaniah 3:17 – “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
Lamentations 3:22–23 – “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Psalm 136:26 – “O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Bible Verses About Love for Marriage and Relationships
Song of Solomon 8:7 – “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.”
A favourite for anniversaries: real love survives hard seasons.
Song of Solomon 8:6 – “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death.”
Ruth 1:16 – “Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”
Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
Ephesians 4:2 – “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9 – “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”
Colossians 3:14 – “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
Bible Verses About Loving Others
John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 15:13 – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Matthew 22:37–39 – “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Romans 12:10 – “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”
Romans 13:10 – “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
1 John 3:18 – “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
Love is proven by action, not words alone.
1 John 4:7 – “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
Bible Verses About Love and Forgiveness
1 Peter 4:8 – “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
Proverbs 10:12 – “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”
Short Bible Verses About Love
Perfect for cards, tattoos, captions and wall art:
- “God is love.” – 1 John 4:16
- “Let all your things be done with charity.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
- “We love him, because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
- “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” – Romans 13:10
- “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.” – Galatians 5:22
How to Use These Bible Verses About Love
- Weddings: 1 Corinthians 13, Ruth 1:16 and Song of Solomon 8:7 are the most-read.
- Anniversary cards: Ecclesiastes 4:9 or Colossians 3:14. Pair them with our wedding anniversary wishes.
- Encouragement: Romans 8:38–39 and Lamentations 3:22–23.
- Devotions: read one verse a morning alongside our spiritual good morning quotes.
- Kids and Sunday school: John 3:16 and 1 John 4:19 are easy to memorise.
Bible Verses About Love FAQ
What is the most famous Bible verse about love?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (“love is patient, love is kind” in modern translations) and John 3:16 are the most quoted.
What does the Bible say love is?
The Bible describes love as patient, kind, humble, forgiving and enduring, and says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
Which verse is best for a wedding?
1 Corinthians 13:4–8, Ruth 1:16–17 and Colossians 3:14 are the most popular wedding readings.
You can read every verse in context on Bible Gateway (KJV). For more words of love, browse our love quotes and touching love messages.
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