There is something about a short verse that lands differently than a long passage. It has nowhere to hide and nothing to lean on — just the words themselves, doing their full work in the space of a single breath. And when those words are about love — the most searched-for, most misunderstood, most needed thing in human experience — the brevity makes them more powerful, not less. They are the kind of words you can write on a sticky note and find three weeks later when you need them most. The kind you can send to someone in the middle of a hard day without explanation. The kind that memorize themselves because they are too true and too simple to forget.
That’s exactly what this collection of short Bible verses about love is here to give you. You’ll find the best brief Scripture verses on God’s love for you, loving others well, love as a daily choice rather than a passing feeling, love in marriage and friendship, and the extraordinary love that was demonstrated before any of us had done anything to deserve it. Read them slowly even though they are short — especially because they are short. Write the ones that stop you somewhere you will see them again. Send one to someone today who needs to be reminded that love, at its truest and its deepest, has always looked exactly like this.
JUMP TO:
The Shortest Love Verse in the Bible — and What It Actually Contains
- “God is love.” — 1 John 4:8 (NIV)
- “Jesus wept.” — John 11:35 (NIV)
- “Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)
- “We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
- “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” — 1 John 4:16 (ESV)
- “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” — 1 John 4:8 (NIV)
- “Love one another.” — John 13:34 (NIV)
- “Do everything in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV)
- “Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)
- “Love is patient, love is kind.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
- “It keeps no record of wrongs.” — 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
- “Love never gives up.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)
- “The greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
- “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” — Colossians 3:14 (NIV)
- “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” — Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
- “Love your neighbor as yourself.” — Mark 12:31 (NIV)
What Jesus Said About Love — His Own Words, Short Enough to Memorize
- “A new command I give you: Love one another.” — John 13:34 (NIV)
- “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” — John 13:34 (NIV)
- “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” — John 15:12 (NIV)
- “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13 (NIV)
- “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35 (NIV)
- “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” — John 15:9 (NIV)
- “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
- “Love your enemies, do good to them.” — Luke 6:35 (NIV)
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” — John 3:16 (NIV)
- “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” — John 3:17 (NIV)
- “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” — Luke 12:32 (NIV)
- “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” — John 10:11 (NIV)
- “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” — John 10:14 (NIV)
- “No one has greater love than this.” — John 15:13 (CSB)
- “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” — John 15:16 (NIV)
- “I have called you friends.” — John 15:15 (NIV)
- “Remain in my love.” — John 15:9 (NIV)
Love Is Patient — Every Line of the Chapter, One at a Time
- “Love is patient.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
- “Love is kind.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
- “It does not envy.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
- “It does not boast, it is not proud.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
- “It does not dishonor others.” — 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
- “It is not self-seeking.” — 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
- “It is not easily angered.” — 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
- “It keeps no record of wrongs.” — 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
- “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” — 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NIV)
- “It always protects.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)
- “Always trusts.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)
- “Always hopes.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)
- “Always perseveres.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)
- “Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)
- “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
- “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)
- “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)
God’s Love for You — Short Lines That Hold More Than They Look Like
- “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” — Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
- “I have called you by name; you are mine.” — Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
- “You are precious and honored in my sight.” — Isaiah 43:4 (NIV)
- “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” — Isaiah 49:16 (NIV)
- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” — Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)
- “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast? Though she may forget, I will not forget you.” — Isaiah 49:15 (NIV)
- “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” — 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
- “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us.” — 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
- “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 (NIV)
- “For God so loved the world.” — John 3:16 (NIV)
- “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love.'” — Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
- “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” — Isaiah 66:13 (NIV)
- “He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
- “His banner over me was love.” — Song of Solomon 2:4 (ESV)
- “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
- “His love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
- “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens.” — Psalm 36:5 (NIV)
Love in a Single Line — the Short Verses Worth Writing on Everything
- “Love your neighbor as yourself.” — Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
- “Love must be sincere.” — Romans 12:9 (NIV)
- “Let love be genuine.” — Romans 12:9 (ESV)
- “Be devoted to one another in love.” — Romans 12:10 (NIV)
- “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.” — Romans 13:8 (NIV)
- “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” — Romans 13:10 (NIV)
- “Love does no wrong to a neighbor.” — Romans 13:10 (ESV)
- “The goal of this command is love.” — 1 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)
- “Walk in the way of love.” — Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
- “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18 (NIV)
- “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us.” — 1 John 4:10 (NIV)
- “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” — 1 John 4:11 (NIV)
- “Whoever does not love does not know God.” — 1 John 4:8 (NIV)
- “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” — 1 John 3:16 (NIV)
- “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us.” — 1 John 4:12 (NIV)
- “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another.” — 1 John 3:23 (NIV)
- “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” — Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
Love in the Psalms — Pure Feeling in a Few Words
- “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
- “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” — Psalm 36:5 (NIV)
- “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!” — Psalm 36:7 (NIV)
- “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” — Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
- “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” — Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
- “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
- “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” — Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
- “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” — Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
- “I will be glad and rejoice in your love.” — Psalm 31:7 (NIV)
- “The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” — Psalm 32:10 (NIV)
- “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.” — Psalm 13:5 (NIV)
- “The earth is full of his unfailing love.” — Psalm 33:5 (NIV)
- “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love.” — Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
- “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love.” — Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
- “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever.” — Psalm 100:5 (NIV)
- “His love endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1 (NIV)
- “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” — Lamentations 3:22 (ESV)
Love That Does Something — Short Verses for When You Have to Act on It
- “Carry each other’s burdens.” — Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
- “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” — Romans 12:15 (NIV)
- “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” — Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
- “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” — Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
- “Honor one another above yourselves.” — Romans 12:10 (NIV)
- “Encourage one another and build each other up.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
- “Do good to all people.” — Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
- “Serve one another humbly in love.” — Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
- “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” — Romans 15:7 (NIV)
- “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” — Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
- “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge, but love your neighbor as yourself.” — Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
- “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” — Luke 6:28 (NIV)
- “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” — Romans 12:17 (NIV)
- “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21 (NIV)
- “If your enemy is hungry, feed him.” — Romans 12:20 (NIV)
- “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” — Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
- “Love your enemies.” — Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
Short Verses About Love in Marriage and Romance — the Ones Worth Framing
- “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” — Song of Solomon 6:3 (NIV)
- “My beloved is mine and I am his.” — Song of Solomon 2:16 (NIV)
- “I have found the one whom my soul loves.” — Song of Solomon 3:4 (NIV)
- “I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.” — Song of Solomon 7:10 (NIV)
- “How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!” — Song of Solomon 1:15 (NIV)
- “Your love is better than wine.” — Song of Solomon 1:2 (ESV)
- “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.” — Song of Solomon 2:10 (ESV)
- “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” — Proverbs 18:22 (NIV)
- “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.” — Song of Solomon 8:7 (NIV)
- “Love is as strong as death.” — Song of Solomon 8:6 (NIV)
- “It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.” — Song of Solomon 8:6 (NIV)
- “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.” — Proverbs 12:4 (ESV)
- “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” — Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)
- “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” — Proverbs 31:28 (NIV)
- “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.” — Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)
- “Marriage should be honored by all.” — Hebrews 13:4 (NIV)
- “Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.” — Proverbs 5:18 (NLT)
There Is No Fear in Love — the Short Verses About What Love Drives Out
- “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” — 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
- “Perfect love drives out fear.” — 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
- “The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” — 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
- “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
- “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” — Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
- “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” — Isaiah 43:5 (NIV)
- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” — Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
- “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?” — Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
- “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” — Psalm 56:3 (NIV)
- “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
- “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” — John 14:27 (NIV)
- “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 (NIV)
- “We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
- “God is love.” — 1 John 4:16 (NIV)
- “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” — 1 John 4:16 (NIV)
- “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 5:5 (NIV)
The Short Verses Worth Carrying Into Tomorrow
- “For I am convinced that neither death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God.” — Romans 8:38–39 (NIV)
- “Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:39 (NIV)
- “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love.'” — Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)
- “His love endures forever.” — Psalm 136:26 (NIV)
- “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.” — Lamentations 3:22 (ESV)
- “They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:23 (ESV)
- “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.” — Romans 8:39 (NIV)
- “I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction.” — Psalm 31:7 (NIV)
- “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken.” — Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
- “My unfailing love for you will not be shaken.” — Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” — John 3:16 (NIV)
- “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 (NIV)
- “How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” — Ephesians 3:18 (NIV)
- “Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)
- “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” — Revelation 22:21 (NIV)