Topical Bible: Lover

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of the Bible, the term "lover" can refer to various forms of love and relationships, ranging from the romantic and marital to the spiritual and allegorical. The concept of a lover is explored through different narratives, teachings, and poetic expressions found throughout the Scriptures.

Romantic and Marital Love

The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs, is a poetic book that celebrates romantic love between a bride and her bridegroom. It is often interpreted as an allegory of God's love for His people, but it also provides a vivid depiction of human love and affection. In Song of Solomon 1:2, the bride exclaims, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine." This book highlights the beauty and passion of marital love, emphasizing the joy and fulfillment found in a committed relationship.

Spiritual Allegory

The relationship between God and His people is frequently depicted using the metaphor of a lover. In the prophetic books, God is often portrayed as a husband to Israel, His unfaithful bride. This imagery is used to convey the depth of God's love and the pain of Israel's infidelity. For instance, in Hosea 2:19-20, God declares, "I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion. And I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will know the LORD."

Warnings Against Idolatrous Lovers

The Bible also warns against forming allegiances with "lovers" that lead one away from God. In Ezekiel 16, Jerusalem is depicted as an unfaithful wife who pursues other lovers, symbolizing idolatry and alliances with foreign nations. Ezekiel 16:32 states, "You adulterous wife! You receive strangers instead of your own husband!" This serves as a caution against spiritual adultery and the dangers of turning away from God to pursue worldly desires.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the concept of love is expanded to include the sacrificial love demonstrated by Christ. While the term "lover" is not explicitly used, the principles of love in relationships are addressed. Ephesians 5:25 instructs, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." This passage underscores the selfless and sacrificial nature of love that should characterize marital relationships, reflecting Christ's love for the Church.

Conclusion

The Bible presents a multifaceted view of lovers, encompassing romantic, marital, and spiritual dimensions. Through its teachings and narratives, it emphasizes the sanctity of love within marriage, the profound love of God for His people, and the importance of faithfulness in all relationships.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) One who loves; one who is in love; -- usually limited, in the singular, to a person of the male sex.

2. (n.) A friend; one strongly attached to another; one who greatly desires the welfare of any person or thing; as, a lover of his country.

3. (n.) One who has a strong liking for anything, as books, science, or music.

4. (n.) Alt. of Lovery

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LOVER

luv'-er ('ohebh, 'ahebh): In the Old Testament 'ohebh, from 'ahebh, "to love," is sometimes "lover" in the sense of "friend," in the older English sense of the word (1 Kings 5:1, "Hiram was ever a lover of David"; Psalm 38:11; Psalm 88:18 Lamentations 1:2); more frequently it has the meaning of "lover" in the special sense, sometimes in the evil sense of the word (Jeremiah 22:20, 22; Jeremiah 30:14 Ezekiel 16:33, 36, etc.; Hosea 2:5, 7, 10, etc.); `aghabh, "to love" (Jeremiah 4:30), rea`, "companion" (Jeremiah 3:1), and ahabhim, "loves" (Hosea 8:9), are also translated "lovers" in this sense.

In the New Testament the simple word "lover" does not occur, but we have various compound words, philotheos "lover of God" (2 Timothy 3:4); philagathos, "lover of good," and philoxenos, "lover of hospitality" (Titus 1:8); philautos, "lover of self" (2 Timothy 3:2); philedonos, "lover of pleasure" (2 Timothy 3:4).

In the Revised Version (British and American) we have, for "a lover of hospitality" (Titus 1:8), "given to"; for "covetous" (Luke 16:14 2 Timothy 3:2), "lovers of money"; for "not covetous" (1 Timothy 3:3), "no lover of money"; for "despisers of them that are good" (2 Timothy 3:3), "no lovers of good."

W. L. Walker

Greek

5367. philautos -- loving oneself
... 5367 (an adjective, derived from 5384 , "lover" and 846 , "of self") -- properly,
a lover of , describing someone preoccupied with their own selfish desires ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5367.htm - 7k

5387. philostorgos -- tenderly loving
... to. 5387 (from 5384 , "lover, friend" and , "natural or family love") --
properly, a lover of (used only in Ro 12:10). 5387 (" love ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5387.htm - 7k

5366. philarguros -- loving money
... 5366 (from 5384 , "lover" and 696 , "of silver") -- properly, a lover of money
(literally, silver) -- ie someone (literally) "in love with personal gain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5366.htm - 7k

5377. philotheos -- loving God
... lover of God. From philos and theos; fond of God, ie Pious -- lover of God. see
GREEK philos. see GREEK theos. (philotheoi) -- 1 Occurrence. 5376, 5377. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5377.htm - 6k

5386. philosophos -- a philosopher
... philosopher Definition: a philosopher. Cognate: 5386 -- literally, "a lover
(friend) of wisdom" (used only in Ac 17:18). Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5386.htm - 6k

5369. philedonos -- loving pleasure
... loving pleasure. From philos and hedone; fond of pleasure, ie Voluptuous -- lover
of pleasure. see GREEK philos. see GREEK hedone. (philedonoi) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5369.htm - 6k

865. aphilagathos -- without love of good
... 865 (from 1 , "not" and 5358 , "a friend, lover of what is good") -- properly,
describing someone who is hostile to the things of God -- ie an active opponent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/865.htm - 7k

5382. philoxenos -- loving strangers
... hospitable. From philos and xenos; fond of guests, ie Hospitable -- given to
(lover of, use) hospitality. see GREEK philos. see GREEK xenos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5382.htm - 6k

5358. philagathos -- loving that which is good
... loves.". 5358 ("a lover of God's good") only occurs in Tit 1:8 where it is
listed as an essential quality for the elder-overseer. Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5358.htm - 7k

5389. philotimeomai -- to love or seek after honor
... very strongly. 5389 (from 5384 , "lover, friend" and 5092 , " honor") --
properly, to show affection for what is (). 5389 ("aspiring ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5389.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

7453. rea -- friend, companion, fellow
... Usage another (27), another's (5), another* (1), companion (3), fellow (1), friend
(30), friend's (1), friends (18), husband (1), kind (1), lover (1), lovers (1 ...
/hebrew/7453.htm - 6k

5689. agab -- to have inordinate affection, lust
... dote, lover. A primitive root; to breathe after, ie To love (sensually) --
dote, lover. 5688, 5689. agab. 5690 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5689.htm - 6k

1730. dod -- beloved, love, uncle
... Or (shortened) dod {dode}; from an unused root meaning properly, to boil, ie
(figuratively) to love; by implication, a love- token, lover, friend; specifically ...
/hebrew/1730.htm - 6k

158. ahab -- love (noun)
... Word Origin from aheb Definition love (noun) NASB Word Usage lovers (1), loving
(1). lover. From 'ahab; affection (in a good or a bad sense) -- love(-r). ...
/hebrew/158.htm - 6k

7901. shakab -- to lie down
... A primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other
purpose) -- X at all, cast down, ((lover-))lay (self) (down), (make to) lie ...
/hebrew/7901.htm - 6k

157. aheb -- to love
... root Definition to love NASB Word Usage beloved (1), dearly love (1), friend (5),
friends (6), love (88), loved (53), lover (1), lovers (16), loves (42 ...
/hebrew/157.htm - 6k

Library

Where Love is the Lover
... THE SECOND CENTURY 42 Where Love is the Lover. Where Love is the Lover, Love
streaming from the Lover, is the Lover; the Lover streaming ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/42 where love is the.htm

Jesus, Lover of My Soul.
... JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL. Jesus, Lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly While
the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/moodys stories/jesus lover of my soul.htm

April the Twentieth the Joy of the Lover
... APRIL The Twentieth THE JOY OF THE LOVER. ROMANS xii.9-18. Love finds her joy in
seeing others crowned. Envy darkens when she sees the garland given to another. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/april the twentieth the joy.htm

The Meditation of the Lover in his Love: and the Forsaking of ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER V THE MEDITATION OF THE LOVER IN HIS LOVE: AND THE FORSAKING
OF FELLOWSHIP: AND HOW IN ORDER IT COMES TO THE FLAME OF LOVE. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter v the meditation of.htm

The Desire of a Lover after God is Shown: and the Cursed Love of ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER VIII THE DESIRE OF A LOVER AFTER GOD IS SHOWN: AND THE CURSED LOVE
OF THIS WORLD IS DECLARED BY MANY EXAMPLES: AND THAT THE MEMORY OF GOD ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter viii the desire of.htm

Jesus Lover of My Soul.
... Ts'hayilth Staylim 14 JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL. ALKOMAYLUM 1 Talowa Jesus
stlay-il-sthawmikh, Taswa salis ay-e kwus lam; E-tila tumokh ...
/.../various/indian methodist hymn-book/14 jesus lover of my.htm

That God's Lover Forsakes the World, Idleness and Irksomeness: and ...
... THE FIRE OF LOVE. BOOK I CHAPTER X THAT GOD'S LOVER FORSAKES THE WORLD, IDLENESS
AND IRKSOMENESS: AND OF HYPOCRITES AND COVETOUS MEN. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter x that gods lover.htm

That the Perfect Lover of God had Liever Run into Great Pain than ...
... BOOK I CHAPTER VIII THAT THE PERFECT LOVER OF GOD HAD LIEVER RUN INTO GREAT PAIN
THAN BY SIN ONCE GRIEVE GOD: AND WHY GOD TORMENTS THE RIGHTEOUS BY THE WICKED. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter viii that the perfect.htm

That a True Lover Only Loves his Beloved: and of Double Ravishings ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER VII THAT A TRUE LOVER ONLY LOVES HIS BELOVED: AND OF DOUBLE RAVISHINGS,
THAT IS TO SAY OUT OF THE BODY, AND OUT OF THE LIFTING OF THE MIND INTO ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter vii that a true.htm

Honorius the Ruler, a Lover of God. Death of Honorius. His ...
... Book IX. Chapter XVI."Honorius the Ruler, a Lover of God. Death of Honorius.
His Successors, Valentinian, and Honoria his Daughter ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xvi honorius the ruler a.htm

Thesaurus

Lover (55 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A friend; one strongly attached to another; one who greatly desires the
welfare of any person or thing; as, a lover of his country. ...LOVER. ...
/l/lover.htm - 24k

Songs (100 Occurrences)
... The fidelity of the Shulammite to her shepherd lover, notwithstanding the blandishments
of the wealthy and gifted king, stands as a rebuke to the notion that ...
/s/songs.htm - 62k

Loves (97 Occurrences)
... NIV). Titus 1:8 but a lover of strangers, a lover of good men, sober-minded,
righteous, kind, self-controlled, (See NIV). Hebrews ...
/l/loves.htm - 34k

Invites (7 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Proverbs 17:19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes
high his doorway is looking for destruction. (See NIV). ...
/i/invites.htm - 8k

Feasting (39 Occurrences)
... Feasting (39 Occurrences). Matthew 11:19 The Son of man has come feasting, and they
say, See, a lover of food and wine, a friend of tax-farmers and sinners! ...
/f/feasting.htm - 19k

Training (32 Occurrences)
... error. (BBE). Proverbs 12:1 A lover of training is a lover of knowledge;
but a hater of teaching is like a beast. (BBE). Proverbs ...
/t/training.htm - 15k

Tax-farmers (14 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Matthew 11:19 The Son of man has come feasting, and they say, See, a
lover of food and wine, a friend of tax-farmers and sinners! ...
/t/tax-farmers.htm - 10k

Raises (17 Occurrences)
... NIV). Proverbs 17:19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes
high his doorway is looking for destruction. (See NAS). ...
/r/raises.htm - 10k

Paramour (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A lover in an unlawful or adulterous relationship; one who takes the place,
without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man or a ...
/p/paramour.htm - 7k

Philip (37 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Lover of horses. (1.) One of the twelve apostles; a
native of Bethsaida, "the city of Andrew and Peter" (John 1:44). ...
/p/philip.htm - 32k

Resources

What is spiritual adultery? | GotQuestions.org

Who are the daughters of Jerusalem in Song of Solomon? | GotQuestions.org

Is Song of Solomon an allegory of God's love for Israel and/or Christ's love for the Church? | GotQuestions.org

Lover: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Lover (55 Occurrences)

Matthew 11:19
The Son of man has come feasting, and they say, See, a lover of food and wine, a friend of tax-farmers and sinners! And wisdom is judged to be right by her works.
(BBE)

Luke 7:34
The Son of man came feasting, and you say, Here is a lover of food and wine, a friend of tax-farmers and sinners.
(BBE)

Luke 10:6
And if there is a lover of peace there, your peace shall rest upon it; otherwise come back upon you.
(WEY)

John 18:37
Then Pilate said to him, Are you then a king? Jesus made answer, You say that I am a king. For this purpose was I given birth, and for this purpose I came into the world, that I might give witness to what is true. Every lover of what is true gives ear to my voice.
(BBE)

1 Timothy 3:3
no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;
(ASV BBE YLT RSV NIV)

Titus 1:8
but given to hospitality, as a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Hebrews 1:9
You have been a lover of righteousness and a hater of evil; and so God, your God, has put the oil of joy on your head more than on the heads of those who are with you.
(BBE)

Genesis 39:7
And after a time, his master's wife, looking on Joseph with desire, said to him, Be my lover.
(BBE)

Genesis 39:10
And day after day she went on requesting Joseph to come to her and be her lover, but he would not give ear to her.
(BBE)

Numbers 5:13
By taking as her lover another man, and keeps it secret so that her husband has no knowledge of it, and there is no witness against her, and she is not taken in the act;
(BBE)

Numbers 5:19
And he will make her take an oath, and say to her, If no man has been your lover and you have not been with another in place of your husband, you are free from this bitter water causing the curse;
(BBE)

Numbers 5:20
But if you have been with another in place of your husband and have made yourself unclean with a lover:
(BBE)

Judges 16:15
And she said to him, Why do you say you are my lover when your heart is not mine? Three times you have made sport of me, and have not made clear to me the secret of your great strength.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 17:25
And Absalom put Amasa at the head of the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had been the lover of Abigail, the daughter of Jesse, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother.
(BBE)

1 Kings 5:1
Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 26:10
And he put up towers in the waste land and made places for storing water, for he had much cattle, in the low hills and in the table land; and he had farmers and vine-keepers in the mountains and in the fertile land, for he was a lover of farming.
(BBE YLT)

Psalms 11:5
The Lord puts the upright and the sinner to the test, but he has hate in his soul for the lover of violent acts.
(BBE YLT)

Psalms 11:7
For the Lord is upright; he is a lover of righteousness: the upright will see his face.
(BBE)

Psalms 37:28
For the Lord is a lover of righteousness, and takes care of his saints; they will be kept safe for ever; but the seed of the evil-doers will be cut off.
(BBE)

Psalms 45:7
You have been a lover of righteousness and a hater of evil: and so God, your God, has put the oil of joy on your head, lifting you high over all other kings.
(BBE)

Psalms 88:18
You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 99:4
The strength also of the king who loveth justice--Thou hast established equity, Thou hast executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
(See RSV)

Psalms 119:113
<SAMECH> I am a hater of men of doubting mind; but I am a lover of your law.
(BBE)

Psalms 119:163
I am full of hate and disgust for false words; but I am a lover of your law.
(BBE)

Psalms 146:8
The Lord makes open the eyes of the blind; the Lord is the lifter up of those who are bent down; the Lord is a lover of the upright;
(BBE)

Proverbs 12:1
A lover of training is a lover of knowledge; but a hater of teaching is like a beast.
(BBE)

Proverbs 13:1
A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.
(BBE)

Proverbs 17:19
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
(BBE)

Proverbs 18:24
There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.
(BBE YLT)

Proverbs 20:13
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
(BBE)

Proverbs 21:17
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
(BBE)

Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a lover, And abundant the kisses of an enemy.
(YLT)

Proverbs 29:3
A man who is a lover of wisdom is a joy to his father: but he who goes in the company of loose women is a waster of wealth.
(BBE)

Song of Songs 1:16
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; also our couch is leafy.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 2:3
As an apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. Under its shadow I delighted to sit, and its fruit was sweet to my taste.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 2:8
Hark! my beloved! behold, he cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 2:17
Until the day breathe, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a gazelle or a young hart upon the mountains of spices.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 4:16
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his precious fruits.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 5:2
I sleep, but my heart waketh; Hark! my beloved knocketh: 'Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.'
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 5:5
I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with flowing myrrh, upon the handles of the bar.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 5:6
I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had turned away, and was gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 5:8
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, what will ye tell him? that I am love-sick.'
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 5:16
His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.'
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 6:1
Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, that we may seek him with thee?'
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 6:3
I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine, that feedeth among the lilies.'
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 7:9
And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine, that glideth down smoothly for my beloved, moving gently the lips of those that are asleep.'
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 7:10
I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 7:13
The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and at our doors are all manner of precious fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 8:5
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple-tree I awakened thee; there thy mother was in travail with thee; there was she in travail and brought thee forth.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 41:8
-- And thou, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, Seed of Abraham, My lover,
(YLT)

Isaiah 47:8
So now take note of this, you who are given up to pleasure, living without fear of evil, saying in your heart, I am, and there is no one like me; I will never be a widow, or have my children taken from me.
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 2:25
Do not let your foot be without shoes, or your throat dry from need of water: but you said, There is no hope: no, for I have been a lover of strange gods, and after them I will go.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 3:20
Truly, as a wife is false to her husband, so have you been false to me, O Israel, says the Lord.
(See NAS)

Hosea 3:1
And the Lord said to me, Give your love again to a woman who has a lover and is false to her husband, even as the Lord has love for the children of Israel, though they are turned to other gods and are lovers of grape-cakes.
(BBE YLT)

Hosea 9:10
I found Israel as grapes in the wilderness; as first-ripe fruit on the fig-tree, I saw your fathers at the beginning: they went to Baal-Peor, and separated themselves unto that shame, and became abominations like their lover.
(DBY)

Subtopics

Lover

Related Terms

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)

Lover (55 Occurrences)

Unkind (7 Occurrences)

Ungrateful (2 Occurrences)

Unholy (23 Occurrences)

Unthankful (2 Occurrences)

Uplifted (26 Occurrences)

Lofty (44 Occurrences)

Lusted (14 Occurrences)