“Love” from a Hebrew Perspective
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“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18).
It was tradition to seek wisdom from great teachers, so when Jesus was asked to express the greatest of all Commandments, He responded without hesitation.
Yeshua/Jesus, like Rabbi Hillel before Him, confirmed that the two greatest Commandments revolved around love. The first commanded us to love the perfect God, and the second commanded us to extend love to His imperfect people.
Loving people is a complex task. In Hebrew, “לאהוב” (leahov) signifies “to love,” while “הָּבֲה ַא” (ahavah) is the noun for “love”. It’s fascinating that in Hebrew, the words “liking” and “loving” are interchangeable. To love means to like, and to like means to love. Hebrew does not make a clear distinction between “liking” and “loving” like many other languages. Instead, the Hebrew word הָּבֲה ַא (ahavah) encompasses both ideas.
When we contemplate God’s Commandment to love, a multitude of individuals emerge in our thoughts: those we hold in high regard, those we may tolerate, and perhaps even those we find difficult to bear. Are we really called to love everyone, or only certain individuals? The divine command in Leviticus 19:18 urges us to treat our “brothers” with fairness and to genuinely love “our neighbor” as much as we love ourselves. In Hebrew, the word עֵר (reah) is translated as “neighbor”, but its true meaning goes beyond that. It signifies “someone who is nearby”, standing in close proximity to us.
There is a widespread belief that if we have positive feelings toward someone and genuinely like them, we will treat them well (we will love them). Contrary to popular belief, ancient Eastern wisdom suggests that when we extend kindness to others, we also experience a profound sense of contentment towards them.
“Oh, how we are cherished by You, Lord of Hosts, Creator of all ages. Indeed, Your love for us has been present from the very instant of our existence. You showed Your love for us by creating the sky and filling it with fresh air, and by allowing flowers to produce a sweet aroma. We might have found ourselves in a world devoid of beauty, pleasure, and delight, but Your creation has enabled us to experience so much more. Despite our waywardness and our separation from our Creator, You have loved Your people with an eternal and unwavering love. Oh, Savior God, you chose to endure the pain we inflicted upon You, despite our rebellious nature. Your grace is truly remarkable.
“You have beautifully led us back and created a path for us to discover You again, even for those who have wandered far and for those who have never known You.
“LORD, we exalt and admire You for your eternal love, for the abundant blessings that You pour upon us. We glorify You for your unwavering goodness. Your faithfulness stretches across all generations, and we bear witness to the resplendence of Your benevolence. Let’s strive to embody even a fraction of Your incredible goodness and love in our interactions with those around us.” Amen
