How do we define God's hate?

[CatholicZ09]

There are some verses in the Bible, explicitly Psalm 5:5 that state God hating people.

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. (Ps. 5:5)

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Prov. 6:16-19)

But, then again, there is the verse where Christ says we must hate our mother and father if we want to follow him.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)

So, can we assume that hate used in scripture is not what WE think of hate?

 

[trogiah]

In terms of how we should feel about things, like “hating” our father and mother and others or even our self - perhaps it is worth considering the saying “No one can serve 2 masters, he will either love one and hate the other or serve one and despise the other.” So if loving God means following his commandments then hating others who would guide us in wrong paths means not following them or their priorities.

As far as what it means for God to “hate” sinners I am not so sure but I think it has something to do with the inevitable, unavoidable consequences of following inherently bad advice. In making sense out of that we should remember that the only way we would not ultimately receive God’s forgiveness is if we don’t practice forgiveness ourselves.

Peace

Jim

 

[starsmurf]

In the part from the Gospel about hating your father and mother and hating one master and loving the other, this is a misunderstanding of the Aramaic that was spoken by Jesus. In that language, there was no way to say “I prefer”, so you couldn’t say “I prefer apples to bananas” you said " I love apples and hate bananas" even if you actually liked bananas. Jesus is not telling us to hate our parents, just that we shouldn’t make them a priority over Him.

I think the word used in the OT is similar, in that it means that God disapproves of this behaviour not that he hates the person.

God is Love, He cannot hate us. I forget the place where it says that God is the lover of life, and despises nothing that He has created, I assume it is in one of the Psalms.

God bless

 

[svid2]

Perhaps in the NT we could use the terms ‘reject’ or ‘turn away from’.

In the OT we could say ‘is hurt by’.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Catholic,

When we ascribe emotions to God, we treat Him as if he were a human being. Saying that God hates anything, is a way of making it easier for us to understand evil.

God “hates” sin in the sense that it goes against his purpose in creation. He “hates”. sinners or idolaters in the same sense that he hates their sin.

Verbum

 

[PJM]

=CatholicZ09;8222628]There are some verses in the Bible, explicitly Psalm 5:5 that state God hating people.

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. (Ps. 5:5)

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Prov. 6:16-19)

But, then again, there is the verse where Christ says we must hate our mother and father if we want to follow him.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)

So, can we assume that hate used in scripture is not what WE think of hate?

It has multiple levels of abhorence. The verse about “mothers and father” simply speaks of a priority of love. We MUST Love God First, Last and Always.

The SIX THINGS to is a moral example; not a complete list. It speaks of God’s detesting ALL SINS, and with yet a more fervent ditain for those who lead others into sin.

The psalm is just another version of God;s COMEPLETE abhorence of ALL SIN.

God Bless,
Pat

 

[White_Peony]

A righteous anger.

 

[Dave_Noonan]

There are some verses in the Bible, explicitly Psalm 5:5 that state God hating people.

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. (Ps. 5:5)

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Prov. 6:16-19)

But, then again, there is the verse where Christ says we must hate our mother and father if we want to follow him.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)

So, can we assume that hate used in scripture is not what WE think of hate?

Just one of the many problems translating from Hebrew/Semitic ideas into English. “Love” would be better translated as “being faithful” or “being loyal” or “recognizing one’s relationship” or “holding to a covenant relationship.” When the Bible says we should love our neighbor or love our enemy, it’s not that we are infatuated with them or want to take them out to dinner. We recognize that they too, are created in the image of God and we recognize and uphold our responsibilities toward them.

“Hate” works the same way, or I guess, is the exact opposite. In the Bible, when God “hates” it means that he recognizes no particular relationship with the object of what/who is being hated.

I think apply anthropomorphic emotions to God is really a separate issue.