Biblical Hebrew H157 verb 208 occurrences

אָהַב

Transliteration: ahab (ʾāhaḇ)

Pronunciation: /aw-HAV/

“to love, desire, delight in”

To love, delight in; commanded in Shema ('love the LORD your God with all your heart', Deuteronomy 6:5) and neighbor love (Leviticus 19:18).

Lexical & Etymological Analysis

Primitive root.

lovefriendbeloved

Cross-Testament Bridge

How this lemma bridges Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Koine Greek through the Septuagint (LXX) translation tradition.

LXX conceptual translation: אָהַב (to love, desire, delight in) -> ἀγαπάω (to love)

LXX conceptual translation: אָהַב (to love, desire, delight in) -> G5368

Direct Cross-Language Equivalents:

G0025 ἀγαπάω (agapao — “to love”)

Foundational passages where אָהַב (ahab) carries significant theological or narrative weight.