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The Blue Letter Bible

Lexicon :: Strong's H157 - 'āhaḇ

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אָהַב
Transliteration
'āhaḇ
Pronunciation
aw-hav'
Listen
Part of Speech
verb
Root Word (Etymology)
A primitive root
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 29

Strong’s Definitions

אָהַב ʼâhab, aw-hab'; or אָהֵב ʼâhêb ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise):—(be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.


KJV Translation Count — Total: 208x

The KJV translates Strong's H157 in the following manner: love (169x), lover(s) (19x), friend(s) (12x), beloved (5x), liketh (1x), lovely (1x), loving (1x).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 208x
The KJV translates Strong's H157 in the following manner: love (169x), lover(s) (19x), friend(s) (12x), beloved (5x), liketh (1x), lovely (1x), loving (1x).
  1. to love

    1. (Qal)

      1. human love for another, includes family, and sexual

      2. human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom

      3. human love for or to God

      4. act of being a friend

        1. lover (participle)

        2. friend (participle)

      5. God's love toward man

        1. to individual men

        2. to people Israel

        3. to righteousness

    2. (Niphal)

      1. lovely (participle)

      2. loveable (participle)

    3. (Piel)

      1. friends

      2. lovers (fig. of adulterers)

  2. to like

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
אָהַב ʼâhab, aw-hab'; or אָהֵב ʼâhêb ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise):—(be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.
STRONGS H157: Abbreviations
אָהֵב 216 verb love
Qal Perfect אָהֵ֑ב Genesis 27:9 + 7 times; אָשֵהבּ Genesis 27:14; אָהַב Genesis 37:3 + 3 times; אֲֵֽֽֽהבָךָ Deuteronomy 15:16; 3rd person feminine singular אָֽהֲבָה Songs 1:7 +, etc.; Imperfect (־הָ֑ב) יֶאֱהַב Proverbs 3:12 +; 1st person singular אֵהָ֑ב Proverbs 8:17 (compare Ew§ 192 d Ges§ 68. 1); וָֽאֹהַב Malachi 1:2; וָאֹהֲבֵהוּ Hosea 11:1; אֹהֲבֵם Hosea 14:5; וָאֹהֲבֵם Psalm 119:167; 2nd person masculine plural תְּאֵהֲבוּ Proverbs 1:22 (compare KöI p. 394 Ges§ 63 R 2); תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ Zechariah 8:17; תָּאֱהָבוּן Psalm 4:3; Imperative אֱהַב־ Hosea 3:1; אֱהָבֶהָ Proverbs 4:6; אֶהֱבוּ Psalm 31:24; Amos 5:15; אֱהָ֑בוּ Zechariah 8:19; Infinitive construct אֱהֹב Ecclesiastes 3:8; אַהֲבָה Deuteronomy 10:12 +; אֲהֲבַת Micah 6:8 + etc.; compare also below n. אהבה below; Participle אֹהֵב (אוֺהֵב) Deuteronomy 10:18 + 26 times; feminine construct אֲהֻבַת Hosea 3:1 is probably active compare BaNB 174 ff; suffix אֹהֲבִי Isaiah 41:8 etc.; feminine אֹהֶ֫בֶת Genesis 25:28; אֹהַ֫בְתִּי Hosea 10:11 etc.; Passive participle אָהוּב Nehemiah 13:26; אֲהוּבָה Deuteronomy 21:15 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 21:16. — love (mostly with accusative, followed by לְ + object Leviticus 19:18, 34; 2 Chronicles 19:2 (late), followed by בְּ Ecclesiastes 5:9; absolute Ecclesiastes 3:8 & see below), (affection both pure & impure, divine & human); —
1. human love to human object; absolute, opposed to hate שָׂנֵא Ecclesiastes 3:8; of love to son Genesis 22:2; Genesis 25:28; Genesis 37:3, 4; Genesis 44:20 (JE) Proverbs 13:24; so also 2 Samuel 13:21 Greek Version of the LXX Ew Th We, compare Dr, of David's loving Amnon; never to parent, but mother-in-law Ruth 4:15; of man's love to woman; wife Genesis 24:67; Genesis 29:20, 30 (compare Genesis 29:18):32 (JE), also Deuteronomy 21:15 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 21:16; Judges 14:16; 1 Samuel 1:5; 2 Chronicles 11:21; Esther 2:17; Hosea 3:1; Ecclesiastes 9:9; but also Genesis 34:3 (J) Judges 16:4, 15; 2 Samuel 13:1, 4, 15 (where of carnal desire) 1 Kings 11:1 compare 1 Kings 11:2; Hosea 3:1; רֵעַ א׳ loving a paramour, see BaNB 176; woman's love to man 1 Samuel 18:20 (so 1 Samuel 18:28 MT, but read וְבִי כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֹהֵב אֹתוֺ Greek Version of the LXX We Dr) Songs 1:3, 4, 7; Songs 3:1, 2, 3, 4 (5 times subject נַפְשִׁי); compare also figurative of adulterous Judah Jeremiah 2:25; Isaiah 57:8; Ezekiel 16:37; of love of slave to master Exodus 21:5 (JE) Deuteronomy 15:16; inferior to superior 1 Samuel 18:22 compare 1 Samuel 18:16; love to neighbour Leviticus 19:18 (וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֺ֑ךָ), particularly to stranger Leviticus 19:34 (both P), Deuteronomy 10:18, 19; love of friend to friend 1 Samuel 16:21; 1 Samuel 18:1, 3; 1 Samuel 20:17 (twice in verse); Job 19:19; Proverbs 17:1 compare 2 Samuel 19:7 (twice in verse); 2 Chronicles 19:2; see also Proverbs 9:8; Proverbs 16:13; compare Proverbs 15:12; see especially Participle below.
2. less often of appetite, object food, Genesis 27:7, 9, 14 (JE); drink Hosea 3:1; Proverbs 21:17; husbandry 2 Chronicles 26:10; compare figurative of Ephraim Hosea 10:11 followed by infinitive; length of life Psalm 34:13; of cupidity Hosea 9:1; 1 Samuel 1:23; Ecclesiastes 5:9 (twice in verse); of love of sleep Proverbs 20:13 compare figurative of sluggish watchmen (followed by infinitive) Isaiah 56:10; also with object abstract wisdom (personified), knowledge, righteousness, etc. Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 8:17, 21; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 22:11; Proverbs 29:3; Amos 5:15; Micah 6:8 (infinitive || infinitives) Zechariah 8:19, compare Proverbs 19:8 קֹנֶה לֵב אֹהֵב נַפְשׁוֺ; object folly, evil, etc., Micah 3:2; Micah 4:3; Psalm 11:5; Psalm 52:5; Psalm 52:6; Psalm 109:17; Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 8:36; Proverbs 17:19 (twice in verse), compare Proverbs 18:21; Zechariah 8:17, compare כֵּן א׳ Amos 4:5; Jeremiah 5:3, followed by Infinitive Hosea 12:8; Jeremiah 14:10, especially of idolatry Hosea 4:13 (where strike out הֵבוּ compare Kö1. p. 395) Jeremiah 8:2.
3. love to God Exodus 20:6 (JE) elsewhere Hexateuch only Deuteronomy 5:10; Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 7:9 + 9 times Deuteronomy + Joshua 22:5; Joshua 23:11; also Judges 5:31; 1 Kings 3:3; Nehemiah 1:5; Daniel 9:4; especially in (late) Psalm 31:24; Psalm 116:1; Psalm 145:20, but usually followed by name, law, etc. of י׳ Psalm 5:12; Psalm 26:8; Psalm 40:17; Psalm 69:37; Psalm 70:5; Psalm 97:10; Psalm 119:47 + 11 times Psalm 119; compare Isaiah 56:6; compare also of love to Jerusalem Isaiah 66:10; Psalm 122:6.
4. especially Participle אֹהֵב =
(a) lover, Lamentations 1:2 (figurative of Jerusalem);
(b) friend Hiram of David 1 Kings 5:15, compare Jeremiah 20:4, 6; Esther 5:10, 14; Esther 6:13; Psalm 38:12 (|| רֵעַ) so Psalm 88:19 [Psalm 88:18], Proverbs 14:20; also Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 27:6; Abraham of God Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7.
5. of divine love...
Niph. Participle plural הַנֶּאֱהָבִים 2 Samuel 1:23 lovely, loveable of Saul & Jonath. (|| הַנְּעִימִם).
Pi. Participle plural suffix (־בָ֑י) מְאַהֲבַי Hosea 2:7 + 3 times; (־בָ֑יִח) מְאַהֲבַיִח Jeremiah 22:20 + 6 times; מְאַהֲבֶיהָ Hosea 2:9 + 4 times
1. friends Zechariah 13:6;
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

BLB Scripture Index of Brown-Driver-Briggs

Genesis

22:2; 24:67; 25:28; 25:28; 27:7; 27:9; 27:9; 27:14; 27:14; 29:18; 29:20; 29:30; 34:3; 37:3; 37:3; 37:4; 44:20

Exodus

20:6; 21:5

Leviticus

19:18; 19:18; 19:34; 19:34

Deuteronomy

4:37; 5:10; 6:5; 7:8; 7:9; 7:13; 10:12; 10:18; 10:18; 10:19; 15:16; 15:16; 21:15; 21:15; 21:16; 21:16; 23:6

Joshua

22:5; 23:11

Judges

5:31; 14:16; 16:4; 16:15

Ruth

4:15

1 Samuel

1:5; 1:23; 16:21; 18:1; 18:3; 18:16; 18:20; 18:22; 18:28; 20:17

2 Samuel

1:23; 12:24; 13:1; 13:4; 13:15; 13:21; 19:7

1 Kings

3:3; 5:15; 10:9; 11:1; 11:2

2 Chronicles

2:10; 9:8; 11:21; 19:2; 19:2; 20:7; 26:10

Nehemiah

1:5; 13:26; 13:26

Esther

2:17; 5:10; 5:14; 6:13

Job

19:19

Psalms

4:3; 5:12; 11:5; 11:7; 26:8; 31:24; 31:24; 33:5; 34:13; 37:28; 38:12; 40:17; 45:8; 47:5; 52:5; 52:6; 70:5; 78:68; 87:2; 88:18; 97:10; 99:4; 109:17; 116:1; 119; 119:47; 119:167; 122:6; 145:20; 146:8

Proverbs

1:22; 1:22; 3:12; 3:12; 4:6; 4:6; 8:17; 8:17; 8:21; 8:36; 9:8; 12:1; 13:24; 14:20; 15:9; 15:12; 16:13; 17:1; 17:19; 18:21; 18:24; 19:8; 20:13; 21:17; 22:11; 27:6; 29:3

Ecclesiastes

3:8; 3:8; 3:8; 5:9; 5:9; 9:9

Song of Songs

1:3; 1:4; 1:7; 1:7; 3:1; 3:2; 3:3; 3:4

Isaiah

41:8; 41:8; 43:4; 48:14; 56:6; 56:10; 57:8; 61:8; 66:10

Jeremiah

2:25; 5:3; 8:2; 14:10; 20:4; 20:6; 22:20; 22:20; 22:22; 30:14; 31:3

Lamentations

1:2; 1:19

Ezekiel

16:33; 16:36; 16:37; 16:37; 23:5; 23:9; 23:22

Daniel

9:4

Hosea

2:7; 2:7; 2:9; 2:9; 2:12; 2:14; 2:15; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1; 3:1; 4:13; 9:1; 9:15; 10:11; 10:11; 11:1; 11:1; 12:8; 14:5; 14:5

Amos

4:5; 5:15; 5:15

Micah

3:2; 4:3; 6:8; 6:8

Zechariah

8:17; 8:17; 8:19; 8:19; 13:6

Malachi

1:2; 1:2; 2:11

Word / Phrase / Strong's Search

Strong's Number H157 matches the Hebrew אָהַב ('āhaḇ),
which occurs 212 times in 196 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

Page 2 / 4 (1Sa 18:20–Psa 119:48)

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 18:20 - Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 18:22 - And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’”
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 18:28 - But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him,
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 20:17 - And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 1:23 - “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
they were stronger than lions.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 12:24 - Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 13:1 - Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her.
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 13:4 - And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 13:15 - Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!”
Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 19:6 - because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.
Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 3:3 - Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.
Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 5:1 - [fn] Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram always loved David.
Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 11:1 - Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,
Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 11:21 - Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).
Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 19:2 - But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD.
Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 20:7 - Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 26:10 - And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:5 - And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 13:26 - Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 2:17 - the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown[fn] on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 5:10 - Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 5:14 - Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows[fn] fifty cubits[fn] high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
Unchecked Copy BoxEst 6:13 - And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
Unchecked Copy BoxJob 19:19 - All my intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I loved have turned against me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 4:2 - O men,[fn] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 5:11 - But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 11:5 - The LORD tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 11:7 - For the LORD is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 26:8 - O LORD, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 31:23 - Love the LORD, all you his saints!
The LORD preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 33:5 - He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 34:12 - What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 37:28 - For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 38:11 - My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
and my nearest kin stand far off.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 40:16 - But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the LORD!”
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 45:7 - you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 47:4 - He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 52:3 - You love evil more than good,
and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 52:4 - You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 69:36 - the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 70:4 - May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 78:68 - but he chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loves.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 87:2 - the LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 88:18 - You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
my companions have become darkness.[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 97:10 - O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 99:4 - The King in his might loves justice.[fn]
You have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 109:17 - He loved to curse; let curses come[fn] upon him!
He did not delight in blessing; may it be far[fn] from him!
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 116:1 - I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 119:47 - for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 119:48 - I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.

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2. Currently on page 2/4 (1Sa 18:20–Psa 119:48) 1Sa 18:20–Psa 119:48

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