What is the Hebrew word for “Love?
The English word love probably comes from the Hebrew word “lehv” (spelled lamed-beyt) which means heart (the seat of emotion in Hebrew thought). The Hebrew word translated as “love” is “ahav” (spelled aleph-hey-beyt) which comes from the parent root “hav” (spelled hey-beyt). Hav means “the family one is born into and given as a gift, a priveledge.” From this parent root comes the child root “ahav” (love) meaning “the love (emotional and actions) one gives to the family that one is priveledged with.” The best example of this is the love one should have for God. Deut 4.7 “And you shall love (ahav) YHWH, your God, with all your heart (lev) and with all your soul (nephesh) and with all your greatness (me’od).
The English word love probably comes from the Hebrew word “lehv” (spelled lamed-beyt) which means heart (the seat of emotion in Hebrew thought). The Hebrew word translated as “love” is “ahav” (spelled aleph-hey-beyt) which comes from the parent root “hav” (spelled hey-beyt). Hav means “the family one is born into and given as a gift, a priveledge.” From this parent root comes the child root “ahav” (love) meaning “the love (emotional and actions) one gives to the family that one is priveledged with.” The best example of this is the love one should have for God.
