Does God hate anyone?

There are two words for hate in the Bible. The Hebrew word is sane. The Greek is miseo. The word has a variety of meanings. It can mean hostility, intense unjustifiable malice toward someone or something, or simple disregard. A similar word would be to abhor or despise. A milder meaning would mean to prefer one thing or person over another.[i]

The idea that God would hate anyone will spark intense debates in any conversation since we know that God is love (I John 4:7-8). John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The question would have to be asked, “Where in the Bible does it declare God hates anyone?”

Leviticus 20:23 – Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nations which I shall drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them.

In Psalm 5:5-6 David says, “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all the workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood. The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."

In Psalm 11:5 reads, “The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates."

Psalm 139:21-22 David said, “Do I not hate them O Lord that hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them my enemies.” Remember David was speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; so these inflammatory words were given to him by God.

Proverbs 6:16-19 – These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil. A false witness that speak lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. 

Hosea 9:15 – All their evil is at Gilgal; indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more; All their princes are rebels.

Jesus said He hated the deeds of this apostate faction called the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6, 15).

One thing we do not want to make the mistake of doing is looking at God’s hate through our own human eyes; otherwise we will harbor ill feelings toward Him and our perception of Him is skewed. Another way of saying this is that we by default make God in our own image; a perpetual mistake people make everyday.  God’s hate is pure, holy and good. It is one of His virtues. It is always justifiable. Also, as much as we would like to dismiss God’s hate in our minds, we cannot – it is taught in the Bible evidenced by the aforementioned texts and many others. We cannot make God a prisoner of His love for mankind. We cannot divorce God’s love from His other attributes – His justice, wrath and judgment. In other words. God’s love does not mean He will show kindness and favor at the expense of His wrath. Whatever God does is good and loving even if man hates and blasphemes Him for it. God is never accountable to us. God never does something without a purpose even if He never explains that purpose to us; He is not required to!  We MUST trust Him (Read the entire book of Job).

God hates the sin but loves the sinner right?

We have all used this phrase especially Christians. Let us carefully think about it. Could sin exist without human beings? The answer is no. Sin is not a force, or a spirit looking to possess someone. Sin is the absence of what is good and right. Sin is a negation and deprivation of holiness. It is the residence of wickedness living inside of us. That is why God despises those that commit it. Sin is antithetical to the holy nature of God. Sin itself is never punished alone, the person who committed the sin is punished right? The Bible never uses the phrase, “God hates the sin but loves the sinner!” But, does the Bible even imply the phrase? I would say yes and no. For those whom God has elected for salvation He definitely hates their sin, yet he loved them to send Jesus to die to take away their sins. For the unrepentant sinner, God’s love is not everlasting. God will eventually abhor that person for their persistent, non-relenting evil ways. He will judge that person guilty and cast them into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). It definitely does not give God pleasure to hate, but it is necessary in order to show a person their wrong. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but it is good that He punishes them so that He can put His wrath, anger and holy justice on full display (Ezekiel 18:30-32). We as humans love and hate at the same time. Is it any great wonder that God does the same? This subject of God loving and hating obviously brings about tremendous tension to our minds.

At the end of this life when judgment comes for those who die in their sins, the sinner is the one cast into the lake of fire not the sin itself (Rev 20:15). Why? Because one cannot argue and say, “Sin made me do it!”.  No, once again sin exists because people willfully actively choose to commit evil from their hearts which manifests itself through their actions. That is what God hates, and why He must ultimately punish evil doers. In order to get rid of evil, God must get rid of those that commit evil.             

So, it would be fair to say that God hates sinners, and His hatred of sinners is good. Why? Because it reveals to us what displeases God, and what clearly pleases Him – righteousness. If God never punished us for our sins, we would not know it was wrong to commit evil. Here is the good news; God’s hatred of sinners does not have to be everlasting. We can repent and turn from our sin and be saved. While God is hating sinners for their sins, He at the same time is loving those same sinners and desires we all repent – that is turn from our sins and run to Jesus and thus be saved.

Here is a wonderful verse of scripture, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). This passage and numerous others reveal to us the love of God toward sinners and His willingness to save all those who believe in Jesus.

We must not reduce God’s hatred to that of our own

One thing we MUST always remember, God’s ways and thoughts are not like ours (Isa 55:8-9). God is transcendent and ultimately beyond our ability to comprehend. God is omnipotent, perfectly holy and righteous in every way, and in Him there is absolutely no darkness. His judgements are righteous and true. He is incapable of ever making a mistake. As a matter of fact, God’s hate is greater than all human love! But, because we are finite beings, sinful, corrupt and wicked, we often wrestle with the decisions God makes and the emotions He exhibits toward mankind. The idea that God hates anyone is repulsive to us. For most even many in the Church, the hatred of God casts a shadow they believe on His benevolent character. Most would rather not discuss God’s hatred; it’s a negative topic many would say. Do we ever wonder how repulsive we are to God sometimes? I often do of myself when I am stuck on stupid. Despite my foolishness, the Father God set His infinite love on me and sent His perfect sinless Son to die for the thing He hated in me, my sins.

Once again God’s hatred of unrepentant impenitent sinners is pure, holy, just and fair. It is under control and perfect; it is also terrifying, that is why all should be willing to zealously repent (Hebrews 10:31)! We must not define God’s hatred like ours – filled with rage, evil and raw emotion. Whenever we do not get what we deserve (God’s hatred leading to His judgment), we are loved by Him which is His nature. When we are loved by God we experience His marvelous benefits and favor. For the believer when we sin, God no longer despises us. He is displeased and will rightfully chastens us because He is a loving Father who desires our good and holiness (Heb 12:5-11). Also, the true child of God will repent of their sins continually (I John 1:9). God cannot hate us any longer because we are no longer in sin, we are in Christ – clothed in His righteousness (2 Cor 5:17-21). Our sins have been forgiven and taken away from us forever. There is nothing but everlasting love for the child of God. God will never hate us (Eph 1:7).

With the non-believer God’s love is temporary. Only God knows when a sinner is irredeemable. Eventually God’s love toward that sinner will turn to hate because of the unwillingness of the sinner to repent from their sins. They love their darkness and hate good and the light (John 3:19). Therefore God’s wrath will abide on them since they have chosen to despise the love of God offered to them in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ that they might be saved (John 3:36). God has every right to hate that person; which will ultimately lead to God’s righteous judgment[ii] – they have exhausted God’s love toward them.

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be accursed. The Greek word for accursed is anathema which means that person will go to everlasting destruction – most tragic (I Cor 16:22).

Never degenerate to the point in your life where God will stop loving you. Repent of your sins and receive the love of Jesus today.         

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[i] Remember the Bible says God love Jacob and hated Esau. In Malachi where this phrase

Originates means God blessed Jacob and his descendants (The Israelites) far greater than Esau and his

Descendants (The Edomites who no longer exist read the book of Obadiah for the judgment and destruction

Of Edom; it’s a one chapter book). So in this sense God loved Jacob and his descendants because of the preferential treatment he received over his brother.

Another scenario would be with Jacob and his two wives Rachel and Leah who were sisters. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. That is why the Bible says Leah was hated or despised (not literally because Leah bore Jacob seven children proving Jacob loved Leah by laying with her).  That is why Jacob worked a total of 14 years for his uncle – father in law Laban to marry Rachel (Genesis 29).

[ii] The Father sending Jesus Christ to come and die for mankind’s sins is the greatest expression of love ever exhibited on the world. Jesus said to His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s

Life for His friends (John 15:13)”. For anyone to despise this premiere, ultimate love act has proven that they are

A despicable, evil person deserving God’s judgment; It is most fair; if one despises ultimate love, that is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for forgiveness of sins, then it makes perfect sense that person should receive God’s ultimate hate, the eternal lake of fire. All mankind must embrace one or the other. There is no middle ground.