28 Bible Verses About Love (NIV & KJV)

Love is the heartbeat of Scripture. From the opening pages of Genesis to the final promises of Revelation, the Bible reveals a God whose very nature is love and who calls His people to love in return. It is the greatest commandment and the mark by which the world recognizes His followers.

These Bible verses about love gather the clearest passages in both the NIV and KJV on the love of God, the call to love one another, and the patient, selfless character that defines real love. Whether you are preparing a wedding reading, encouraging a friend, or simply seeking to know God's heart, these words endure.

Let these verses remind you that love is not merely a feeling but a choice, a sacrifice, and a reflection of the One who loved us first.

❤️ God's Love for Us

These verses reveal the depth and reliability of God's love toward His people.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”— John 3:16 (NIV)“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.”— John 3:16 (KJV)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”— Romans 5:8 (NIV)“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”— Romans 5:8 (KJV)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”— 1 John 3:1 (NIV)“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”— 1 John 3:1 (KJV)

“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”— Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”— Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”— John 15:13 (NIV)“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”— John 15:13 (KJV)

🕊️ The Nature of Love

Scripture defines what love truly looks like in action.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”— 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”— 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”— 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”— 1 Corinthians 13:7 (KJV)

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”— 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”— 1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV)

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”— 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”— 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”— Proverbs 10:12 (NIV)“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”— Proverbs 10:12 (KJV)

🤝 Loving One Another

These verses call believers to love each other as a witness of their faith.

““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”— John 13:34 (NIV)“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”— John 13:34 (KJV)

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””— John 13:35 (NIV)“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”— John 13:35 (KJV)

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”— 1 John 4:7 (NIV)“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”— 1 John 4:7 (KJV)

“Do everything in love.”— 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV)“Let all your things be done with charity.”— 1 Corinthians 16:14 (KJV)

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”— Romans 13:8 (NIV)“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”— Romans 13:8 (KJV)

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”— Romans 12:9 (NIV)“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”— Romans 12:9 (KJV)

✝️ Love for God

The first and greatest commandment is to love God with everything we are.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”— Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”— Deuteronomy 6:5 (KJV)

“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”— Matthew 22:37 (NIV)“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”— Matthew 22:37 (KJV)

“We love because he first loved us.”— 1 John 4:19 (NIV)“We love him, because he first loved us.”— 1 John 4:19 (KJV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”— Romans 8:28 (NIV)“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”— Romans 8:28 (KJV)

🛡️ Love That Endures

These verses promise that nothing can separate us from God's love.

“Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.”— Song of Solomon 8:7 (NIV)“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”— Song of Solomon 8:7 (KJV)

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,”— Romans 8:38 (NIV)“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”— Romans 8:38 (KJV)

“neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”— Romans 8:39 (NIV)“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.”— Romans 8:39 (KJV)

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”— 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”— 1 Corinthians 13:8 (KJV)

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”— 1 John 4:18 (NIV)“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”— 1 John 4:18 (KJV)

🌟 Love in Action

Love proves itself through how we treat others.

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”— Colossians 3:14 (NIV)“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”— Colossians 3:14 (KJV)

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”— Romans 12:10 (NIV)“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”— Romans 12:10 (KJV)

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.”— Hebrews 13:1 (NIV)“Let brotherly love continue.”— Hebrews 13:1 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Love?

The Bible says that love originates with God Himself, for Scripture declares plainly that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Every act of genuine love is a reflection of His nature, and His love was supremely demonstrated when He gave His Son for the world. This love is not earned but freely given, reaching us even while we were still sinners.

In response, believers are commanded to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbors as themselves. First Corinthians 13 paints the fullest portrait of this love: patient, kind, humble, and enduring. The Bible presents love not as fleeting emotion but as the highest virtue, the fulfillment of the law, and the lasting evidence of true faith.

May these verses draw you deeper into the love that never fails. For more Scripture to strengthen your walk, explore our Bible verses about encouragement, Bible verses about peace, and Bible verses about faith.