“Give ear to my words,
O Lord, consider my meditation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God:
for unto thee will I pray.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning,
O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee,
and will look up.

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure
 in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:
 thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing:
the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.” (Ps. 5:1-6)

A Disturbing Word

The Hebrew word for hate (sane [saw-nay’]), means to find odious. The word refers to one’s enemy.

The Greek word for hate (miseo [mis-eh’-o]), means to abhor, to detest, and to find something utterly repulsive.  Miseo describes a person who has a deep-seated animosity, and is antagonistic to something found to be completely objectionable.

The term “hate” is a harsh word and seems inappropriate to use it in relation to God for we read so often about the love of God and what He has done to seek and to save that which is lost. Nevertheless, the Bible does teach about the hatred of God. There are some things, and some people, which the Lord detests, and will destroy in His holy wrath.  

A Shocking Concept

God hates those who rob Him of authentic worship. “For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them” (Isaiah 61:8).

God hates idolatry. “Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate” (Jer. 44:4).

God hates hypocritical acts of worship. “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies” (Amos 5:21).

God hates false doctrine. “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Rev. 2:15).

God hates those who refused to repent of sin. “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom. 9:6).

The Biblical Evidence

Because the concept of God hating anything or anyone is so radical and emotionally disturbing, the Scriptures must be carefully examined beginning with Romans 9.

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

The Doctrine of Election Begins to be Taught

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom. 9:6-13).

Paul Anticipates the Reaction of His Readers

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So, then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy…Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth” (Rom. 9:14-16, 18).

The Doctrine Stands

In the first century, and in the twenty-first century, there is an emotional reaction by some against the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of election.  Nevertheless, both God’s sovereignty and His hatred stands. What is required of the reader of Scripture is to understand this revelation about God, and submit to the teaching of Scripture.

When Paul uses the words, “It is written,” he is referring to the Old Testament Scriptures. Speaking to national Israel through His prophet Malachi, the Lord showed His displeasure with His people for they questioned His love for them. “I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob” (Mal. 1:2).

An important truth is displayed here. Every New Testament teaching is grounded in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. There is a unity to the Word of God. This is important to keep in mind lest the Scriptures are used to divide the Church on foundational doctrines of faith which must be contended for (Jude 3).

What Paul writes about God hating Esau is a direct quotation from the Old Testament. There is divine consistency. In His essence, God does not change. What He hated yesterday, He does not tolerate today. Whom God loved in the past, He loves today.

Understanding the Scripture: A Hebraism  

Various commentators have understood the words of Malachi, and thus Paul, differently.

Some have taken the words to mean nothing more than a manner of speaking, a hyperbole. The exaggerated idea is set forth that compared to God’s love for Jacob, it can seem like He hates Esau. Such language is called a Hebraism.

A Love–Hate Relationship Illustrated

An illustration of a love – hate relationship is presented in Genesis 29. The story is familiar. A man named Laban had two daughters. The name of the eldest daughter was Leah (Heb. “wearied”), and the name of the younger was Rachel (Heb. “a ewe”). While Leah had a problem with her eyes that made her unattractive, Rachel was beautiful in the heart of Jacob. Jacob loved Rachel and was willing to work seven years to obtain her hand in marriage.

The years passed quickly and the wedding night came when Jacob went to be with Rachel. The next morning, to his astonishment, Jacob had been deceived by Laban and his daughter Leah. It was Leah whom Jacob had been intimate with and therefore, according to custom, had married.  He was compelled to work another seven years for Laban in order to obtain the true object of his heart’s desire.

Jacob did work to win Rachel and the day came when she too was given to him in marriage (Gen. 29:30). However, Jacob’s relationship with Leah was far different than his relationship with Rachel. “And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated (same’ [saw-nay’]), He opened her womb: but Rachel was barren” (Gen. 29:31).

Leah was unloved by Jacob. Though Jacob provided for Leah, and had children with her, she remained unloved. With each pregnancy the hope of Leah was that Jacob would love her (Gen. 29:32, 34).

In contrast to his attitude toward Leah was his attitude toward Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah (Gen. 29:30).

In this, Jacob did no wrong. He was under no obligation to love Leah. She had come to him in deceit. She had forced herself on him. She had tried to gain his attention and affection by bearing children, and by so doing revealed an utilitarian purpose in her heart.

Leah’s scheme to get married, her scheme of having children to solidify a relationship with Jacob did not work. The heart of Jacob was never turned to her to the same dimension his heart was given to Rachel. Leah was aware of this. When she compared herself to Rachel, Leah felt unloved.

According to some Bible teachers, it is a sense of feeling unloved that is at the heart of the Hebraism, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

A New Testament Teaching on Comparative Love

Turning to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus spoke about comparative love–hate when He taught those who were following him to count the cost. While salvation is free, it is not cheap, nor is discipleship. 

“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:25-27).

The Lord does not want children to hate their parents for that would be a violation of the Moral Law (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16; Eph. 6:1). What Jesus does want, what He demands is a commitment and love for Him that overshadows all other relationships, including the most intimate love that is found in a family. The love of a believer for Jesus might look like hate for others, by comparison. Many parents, pastors, teachers, missionaries, and evangelists have been so committed to the work of the gospel that it could seem like they hate their family.

Evangelist Billy Graham felt this dilemma and was asked about it in a Christianity Today interview (Nov. 7, 2008).

“CT: Do you have any regrets as you look back on your life [at age 90]?

Mr. Graham: I regret that I didn’t spend more time with my family; I’m sure Ruth and the children paid a heavy price for all the times I was absent. I always tell younger evangelists not to feel like they have to accept every invitation they get or be absent from home so much. We can do so much today through modern communications.”

While Mr. Graham did regret not spending more time with his family, he paid the price. He counted the cost. He loved Jesus above all others. 

Understanding the Scripture: A Normal Understanding

While it is possible that a Jewish Hebraism explains the love of God for Jacob and His hatred for Esau, when exegeting Romans 9, special care must be taken because God did love Jacob in a special way reflected in the Abrahamic Covenant being renewed with him (Gen. 28:10-36:43). Moreover, God did view Esau as a profane person and declared him to be godless for he traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal (Heb. 12:16).

The relation of God to Jacob was one of faithful love while God’s relationship with Esau was one of hatred. The loyal love of God for Jacob before he was born.

The divine hatred for Esau was also present before he was born so “that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (Rom. 9:11).

God Must be Believed, Not Reconstructed  

As comforting as ascribing to God a Hebraism to understand His “hatred” for some, it is not conclusive for the Bible does speak often of God’s hatred. The Hebrew word for hate (sane [saw-nay’]), meaning to find odious; to be an enemy teaches this truth. The Greek word for hate (miseo [mis-eh’-o]), meaning to abhor, to detest, and to find something [or someone] utterly repulsive, cannot be dismissed in an effort to protect the character of God and make Him so loving that His justice and wrath are dismissed.

There is a facet of God’s character that finds an utter disgust and loathsomeness toward those who perish because they will not repent of their sins. Their names are not written in the Book of Life. The existence of hell, created for the Devil and his angels, where the unbelieving will also be cast, testifies to a divine hated. Study Matthew 18:9; 25:41; Revelation 20:15.

Words of Warning

Let the word go forth. It is a fearsome thing to fall into the hands of the living God, who is angry with the wicked everyday. Study Hebrews 10:31; Psalm 7:11.

In his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Jonathan Edwards warns individuals to believe God. The God who loved us while we were sinners and gave His Son to die a substitutionary death, is also a God of unspeakable wrath who destroys His enemies with a perfect and just hatred.

“The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whetted, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.”

Finding Forgiveness in Christ

Because the strong language of Scripture presents the hatred of God, let every soul flee to Christ. Do not think that God loves the sinner but hates the sin. That is non-sensical. It is not sin that the wrath of God puts into hell, it is the sinner. The truth must be told “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). Therefore, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6).

When the Christian talks about the hatred of God for the ungodly, the torments of hell, and the wrath of Divine justice, let there be tears in one’s eyes, tenderness in one’s voice, and a sense of urgency. Tell those who are perishing how the wrath of God will be dissipated, and His hatred turned to love at Calvary. Tell those who are in a state of impenitence and unbelief to flee and find life, eternal life, in Christ Jesus for “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

A Word to the Unconverted

If you are alarmed and your heart is trembling because you are now convinced that God does despise the wicked, and He does abhor those who persist in unbelief, then flee to Calvary and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Flee from the wrath to come. Do not remain an object of divine hatred.

“Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and pow’r.

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?

Lo! th’ incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.”

~Joseph Hart