65+ Bible Verses About Having Hatred Towards Others 2026

Hatred is one of the most destructive forces a person can carry in their heart. It tears apart relationships, slowly poisons the soul, and pulls a person far away from the peace and presence of God. Scripture is very clear that hatred is not simply a passing emotion. It is a deep spiritual problem that opens the door to sin, division, and harm.

God lovingly calls every believer to rise above bitterness and choose love instead. He calls us to replace resentment with forgiveness and hostility with compassion. The Bible verses below serve as a powerful reminder that hatred has no place in the heart of someone who belongs to God. Those who truly follow Jesus Christ are recognized by the love they consistently show to the people around them.

Bible Verses About Having Hatred Towards Others

Leviticus 19:17 Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.

God does not want hidden bitterness to grow quietly inside us. He asks us to deal with conflict honestly and openly rather than allowing hatred to take root in secret.

Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.

God commanded His people long ago to let go of grudges and revenge. True love for our neighbor means we refuse to hold their wrongs against them and instead choose to treat them the way we would want to be treated.

Genesis 4:7 If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.

This warning from the very beginning of Scripture reminds us that anger and hatred, when left unchecked, give sin an open door into our lives. God calls us to take authority over those feelings before they take authority over us.

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Wherever hatred is present, trouble follows closely behind. Love, on the other hand, has the remarkable power to heal wounds and bring peace where there was once only pain.

Proverbs 10:18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.

Hiding hatred behind a friendly face while spreading harmful words about others is something God calls foolish. He desires honesty and integrity in both our hearts and our speech.

Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick tempered displays folly.

Patience is a sign of wisdom. When we slow down our reactions and choose to respond thoughtfully instead of angrily, we show the kind of understanding that comes only from God.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath.

The way we respond in a tense moment has enormous power. A calm and gentle reply can completely defuse a situation that hatred would only make worse.

Proverbs 15:17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.

A simple life filled with genuine love is far more valuable than a life of comfort and abundance that is poisoned by hatred. God values the condition of our hearts above all material things.

Proverbs 16:32 Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

True strength is not found in striking back. God considers a person who controls their anger and chooses patience to be far stronger than the greatest warrior.

Proverbs 17:9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

When we choose to let an offense go instead of bringing it up again and again, we protect our relationships and create space for love to grow. Repeating old wounds only drives people further apart.

Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, I’ll pay you back for this wrong.

The desire for personal revenge is a trap. God asks us to trust Him with justice and release our need to make others pay for what they have done to us.

Proverbs 24:17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls.

Taking pleasure in someone else’s suffering, even an enemy’s, reveals a hardness of heart that God does not want in His people. We are called to respond with mercy instead.

Proverbs 26:24 and 25 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them.

This verse reminds us to be spiritually discerning. Hatred is often disguised and hidden beneath kind words. God calls us to walk wisely and guard our hearts while still choosing to love others.

Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.

Anyone can explode in anger, but it takes real wisdom and godly character to remain calm and bring peace to a heated situation. God honors those who choose restraint over rage.

Psalm 4:4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.

Feeling anger is a human experience, but God warns us not to let that anger become sin. He invites us to take quiet moments to examine our hearts and bring our feelings before Him.

Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Peace does not just happen on its own. God tells us to actively turn away from evil and intentionally go after peace with everything we have.

Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret, it leads only to evil.

Holding onto anger and letting it simmer is a path that only leads in one direction, toward more evil and more pain. God calls us to let it go and trust Him completely.

Psalm 55:21 His words are smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart.

This verse serves as a wise reminder that hatred is often hidden beneath a pleasant surface. God sees what is truly in every heart, even when others cannot.

Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.

Unity among believers brings joy to God’s heart. When His people choose love over division, it becomes a beautiful testimony to the world around them.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

A person who is easily offended and quick to anger is described in God’s Word as foolish. Wisdom means taking a breath before reacting and inviting God’s Spirit to guide our response.

Micah 6:8 Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.

God has told us plainly what He requires. A life of justice, mercy, and humility leaves no room for hatred to take hold.

Zechariah 8:17 Do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this, declares the Lord.

God makes His feelings very clear here. Scheming against others and speaking dishonestly are things He deeply hates. He calls His people to live with integrity and goodwill toward one another.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

People who actively work toward peace are not just doing something nice. Jesus says they are displaying the very nature of God and will be recognized as His children.

Matthew 5:21 and 22 Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

Jesus raised the standard higher than the law alone. He taught that unchecked anger toward others places us in a spiritually dangerous position before God.

Matthew 5:43 and 44 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

This is one of the most challenging commands in all of Scripture. Jesus calls us not only to tolerate our enemies but to actively love them and lift them up in prayer.

Matthew 6:14 and 15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Jesus connects forgiveness directly to our own relationship with God. When we refuse to forgive others, we block the very forgiveness we need from God ourselves. Choosing to forgive is not just about others. It is about protecting our own walk with God.

Matthew 18:21 and 22 Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness has no limit. We are called to keep forgiving, not because the other person deserves it, but because God has forgiven us far more.

Matthew 22:39 Love your neighbor as yourself.

This second great commandment from Jesus is beautifully simple. The same care, respect, and kindness we naturally give to ourselves should be extended to every person around us.

Mark 11:25 Forgive, if you have anything against anyone.

Jesus connects our forgiveness of others directly to our relationship with God. Holding onto a grudge blocks the flow of God’s grace in our own lives.

Luke 6:27 Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.

Doing good to someone who has wronged you is a supernatural act. It is only possible when we rely on God’s strength rather than our own natural instincts.

Luke 6:28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Instead of returning harsh words with harsh words, God invites us to speak blessings over those who have hurt us. This is how we break the cycle of hatred.

Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

This golden rule is simple but deeply powerful. Before we respond to someone in anger or hatred, we should stop and consider how we ourselves would want to be treated.

Luke 17:3 and 4 If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying I repent, you must forgive them.

God calls us to an extraordinary level of forgiveness that goes far beyond what feels natural. No matter how many times someone wrongs us, we are called to keep our hearts open to forgiveness.

John 13:34 and 35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Jesus gave His followers a brand new standard of love, the same selfless love He showed us. When believers love each other this way, it becomes the most powerful witness to the world that we truly belong to Him.

John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

This is not a suggestion from Jesus. It is a direct command. The model for how we love others is the same love He showed us, which was patient, sacrificial, and completely unconditional.

Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

When we allow our fleshly emotions like hatred and anger to rule our thinking, it leads to spiritual death. But when we let God’s Spirit guide our minds, the result is genuine life and lasting peace.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Devotion and honor are powerful antidotes to hatred. When we genuinely put the needs and dignity of others above our own, there is simply no space left for hatred to live.

Romans 12:17 and 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

God understands that we cannot always control others, but He asks us to do our part. We are responsible for pursuing peace from our side, regardless of how others respond.

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.

Revenge belongs to God alone. When we step back and trust Him to handle what is unjust, we free ourselves from the burden of hatred and open our hearts to His peace.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Responding to hatred with more hatred only allows evil to win. God’s way is to fight darkness with light and to answer cruelty with kindness.

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor.

Love and harm cannot exist in the same action. When we truly love others as God commands, we will naturally seek their good rather than their pain.

1 Corinthians 13:4 and 5 Love is patient, love is kind. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

True love, the kind God calls us to walk in, does not hold onto past offenses. It chooses patience and kindness over and over again, even when it is not easy.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And the greatest of these is love.

Out of all the gifts and virtues God has given us, love stands above every single one. It is the foundation of everything that truly matters in the Christian life.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Paul closes this letter with a beautiful promise. When believers commit to unity and peace with one another, the God of love and peace makes His presence known among them.

Galatians 5:20 and 21 Hatred, discord, jealousy and fits of rage, those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

God’s Word gives us a very serious warning here. A lifestyle built on hatred, jealousy, and rage is completely incompatible with the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

When the Holy Spirit is truly at work in our lives, the result is love and peace, not hatred and anger. These fruits are the evidence of a heart surrendered to God.

Ephesians 4:26 and 27 In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

God acknowledges that we will sometimes feel angry, but He warns us not to let that anger linger. Unresolved anger gives the enemy an open invitation to plant seeds of hatred in our hearts.

Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, with every form of malice.

Paul urges believers to do a complete spiritual housecleaning. Every trace of bitterness, anger, and malice must be removed so that love can flourish freely.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The reason we forgive is rooted in the forgiveness God has already shown us in Christ. When we remember how much we have been forgiven, it becomes much easier to extend that same grace to others.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Selfishness and pride are the soil in which hatred grows. When we humble ourselves and put others first, we remove the conditions that allow hatred to thrive.

Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.

As followers of Christ, we are called to let go of every form of hatred and harmful speech. These things have no place in a life that is surrendered to God.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Bearing with one another means choosing to stay patient with people even when they frustrate or hurt us. The standard for our forgiveness is the same forgiveness God freely gave to us.

Colossians 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Love is described here as the final layer, the one that holds everything else together. Without love, all other virtues begin to fall apart. With it, true unity becomes possible.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Paul gives every believer a clear and practical instruction. We are not to repay wrong with wrong. Instead, we are to constantly pursue what is good for others, even those who have wronged us.

Titus 3:3 We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

Paul honestly reminds us where we all came from before Christ. Without God’s grace, hatred and envy were simply a natural part of how we lived and related to others.

Titus 3:4 and 5 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us.

Everything changed the moment God stepped into our lives with His love. His kindness toward us is the very reason we are now able to show kindness and love to others.

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy.

Peace with others and holiness before God go hand in hand. God asks us to pursue both with the same level of commitment and effort.

Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Bitterness does not stay contained. When it is allowed to grow, it eventually spreads and affects everyone around us. God warns us to deal with bitterness early before it has a chance to defile and destroy.

James 1:19 and 20 For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Our anger, no matter how justified it may feel, cannot bring about the holy and righteous life that God is building in us. Patience and self control open the door for God to work.

James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Envy and selfish thinking create an environment where hatred and wrongdoing naturally grow. God calls us to pull these things out by the roots before they spread further.

James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

When we choose to plant seeds of peace instead of conflict, we will eventually harvest a life filled with God’s righteousness and blessing.

1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Peter calls believers to completely strip away every attitude and behavior rooted in hatred. A life that follows Christ has no room for malice, envy, or tearing others down with words.

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

God calls us to completely flip the natural human response. Instead of returning evil for evil, we are to return blessing. This is not a weakness. It is the very calling God has placed on our lives.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Deep, sincere love is the greatest priority for every believer. It has the ability to cover offenses, restore broken relationships, and bring healing to wounded hearts.

1 John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.

We cannot walk in the light of God while at the same time holding hatred toward others. Hatred is darkness, and darkness and light simply cannot occupy the same space.

1 John 3:11 We should love one another.

This message has been at the very heart of the Christian faith from the very beginning. Loving one another is not optional. It is the core calling of every believer.

1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

God takes hatred extremely seriously. In His eyes, holding hatred toward another person is just as grave as the act of murder, because both destroy life, whether physically or spiritually.

1 John 4:20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.

We cannot say we love God with our lips while carrying hatred in our hearts toward others. Our love for God must show itself through how we treat the people He created.

Our Thoughts on What the Bible Says About Having Hatred Towards Others

The Bible speaks about hatred in a way that is both honest and deeply sobering. Hatred is spiritually dangerous because it silently destroys the person who carries it, as well as the person it is directed toward. It clouds good judgment, hardens the heart over time, and shuts the door on any possibility of healing and restoration.

But here is the good news. God never leaves us without hope or direction. He calls His children to walk in love, even when love feels incredibly hard. Love is not simply an emotion that rises and falls with how we feel on a given day. It is the visible proof of a heart that has been genuinely changed by God’s grace.

Choosing to forgive someone does not mean you are saying what they did was acceptable. It means you are refusing to let their actions keep you in bondage. Hatred ties the soul down and drains life away, while love lifts the spirit and sets it free. When believers make the daily decision to reject hatred and walk in love, they become a living reflection of Jesus Christ in a world that desperately needs to see Him.

Say This Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come before You asking You to search my heart and remove every trace of hatred, bitterness, and resentment that I have been holding onto. Teach me to forgive others the way You have so freely forgiven me. Pour Your love, patience, and compassion into my heart so that I can pour them out to the people around me. Help me to walk in peace each day, to speak words that build up rather than tear down, and to resist every temptation to repay someone’s wrong with more wrong. I want my life to reflect Your grace and Your goodness to everyone I meet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.