types of love in the bible

Types of Love in the Bible: Agape, Phileo, and More

Types of love in the Bible: agape, phileo/philadelphia, storge-language, and how romantic desire fits — with Strong's notes, Scripture, and plain comparisons.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 28, 2026Updated September 29, 20265 min read1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

Two friends walk an olive-grove path carrying a basket between them.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

— 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

People who search types of love in the Bible want the Greek and Hebrew love-words sorted — which word means God's self-giving love, which means friendship, which means family affection — without a classroom lecture. This page names the main words, shows sample verses, and links to fuller pages for each lane. For agape alone, see What is agape love. For the broad answer, see What does the Bible say about love. For a verse list, see Bible verses about love.

Word study (lead verse). In 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul uses agapē (Strong's G26) for the love that outlasts gifts and remains with faith and hope. The chapter has already described that love as patient and kind. See Bible Hub G26 and 1 Corinthians 13.

Matthew Henry Concise notes that "charity" here is not mere almsgiving but "love in its fullest meaning; true love to God and man," and that without it the most glorious gifts are of no account before God (Bible Hub, Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 13).

The main love-words you will meet

Agape — self-giving love

Agapē / agapaō (G26) is the New Testament's primary word for love that chooses the other's good — God's love in Christ and the love commanded among disciples. Key verses: 1 John 4:8; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; John 13:34; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Full page: What is agape love. Essay already on site: Agape love: God is love.

Phileo and philadelphia — friendship and brotherly affection

Phileō (Strong's G5368) often carries warm personal affection — to love as a friend. Philadelphia (Strong's G5360) is brotherly love. Romans 12:10 says, "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Hebrews 13:1 says, "Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters." See Bible Hub G5368, Bible Hub G5360, Bible verses about brotherly love, and Bible verses about friendship. The friendship-word page is What is phileo love. The side-by-side of the two words is Phileo vs agape.

Storge-language — natural family affection

The noun storgē itself is rare in the New Testament, but the compound philostorgos (Strong's G5387) appears in Romans 12:10 for devoted, family-like affection among believers — "be devoted to one another in love." See Bible Hub G5387. Family love themes also run through pages like Bible verses about family love and Love and family. The family-affection page is What is storge love.

Romantic desire — present in Scripture, different vocabulary

Classical Greek eros is often listed in "four loves" charts for romantic or sexual desire, but it is not the New Testament's usual love vocabulary for Christian ethics. Scripture still speaks clearly about marital desire and covenant faithfulness — for example Song of Solomon 8:6-7 and Ephesians 5:25 — using Hebrew poetry and agapē commands rather than the word eros. The fuller page is What is eros love. See Song of Solomon 8:6, Love in marriage: Ephesians 5, and Bible verses for marriage.

Hesed — covenant kindness (Hebrew)

In the Old Testament, hesed (Strong's H2617) names loyal love, mercy, and covenant kindness. It is not a Greek "type," but it belongs in any honest map of biblical love language. Full page: What does hesed mean. Lexicon: Bible Hub H2617.

How the types fit together

Charts that list "four Greek loves" can help as a memory aid, but the Bible is not a vocabulary quiz. The New Testament presses agapē as the love that defines God and discipleship, while still using friendship and family-affection language. Hebrew hesed holds the Old Testament story of God's loyal kindness. For God's love specifically, see Bible verses about God's love. For love aimed at neighbors and enemies, see Bible verses about loving your neighbor and Bible verses about loving your enemies.

How to use this page

If you need God's self-giving love, start with agape and What is agape love. If you need church family affection, start with philadelphia and Romans 12:10. If you need Old Testament covenant kindness, start with What does hesed mean. Searches for the phrase love is patient belong on Love is patient Bible verse. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What are the types of love in the Bible?

The New Testament's main love word is agapē (self-giving love). It also uses phileō / philadelphia for friendship and brotherly affection, and philostorgos language for devoted family-like care. The Old Testament's hesed names covenant kindness. Romantic desire appears in places like Song of Solomon, with its own Hebrew poetry.

What are the four Greek words for love?

Popular teaching lists agape, philia, storge, and eros. Scripture heavily uses agape and phileo/philadelphia language; storge appears mainly in compounds like philostorgos; eros is classical Greek and is not the NT's standard love term. Use the lists as a help, then return to the verses.

Is agape better than the other loves?

Scripture calls agapē the greatest of faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13) and commands it. That does not erase friendship or family affection; it sets the love that can govern and purify them.

Where does hesed fit?

Hesed is Hebrew covenant loyalty and kindness — God's steadfast love in the Old Testament story. See What does hesed mean and Love and mercy.

Read What is agape love, What does hesed mean, Bible verses about brotherly love, and What does the Bible say about love.

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