אַהֲבָה

Love

a-ha-VAH

Artwork of Israel and Hebrew Letters

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About “Love” in Hebrew

Ahava is one of the most powerful words in Hebrew and appears throughout Jewish scripture and prayer. The command 'V'ahavta l'reacha kamocha'—love your neighbor as yourself—is called by Rabbi Akiva the greatest principle of the Torah. The famous AHAVA sculpture by Robert Indiana's Hebrew equivalent stands in Jerusalem, and the word is a popular motif in Israeli art and jewelry.

Example

הָאַהֲבָה הִיא הַדָּבָר הֲכִי חָשׁוּב.

Love is the most important thing.

Gematria of “Love” (אהבה)

In Hebrew numerology (gematria), each letter has a numerical value. The word אהבה (a-ha-VAH) has a gematria value of 13.

1א+

5ה+

2ב+

5ה

total13

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“Love” in the Bible

Verses from the Torah and Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) mentioning “love”.

Amos 4:5עמוס 4:5

וקטר מחמץ תודה וקראו נדבות השמיעו כי כן אהבתם בני ישראל נאם אדני יהוה

And burn a thank offering of leavened bread; And proclaim freewill offerings loudly. For you love that sort of thing, O Israelites —declares the Sovereign GOD.

Amos 5:15עמוס 5:15

שנאו רע ואהבו טוב והציגו בשער משפט אולי יחנן יהוה אלהי צבאות שארית יוסף

Hate evil and love good, And establish justice in the gate; Perhaps the ETERNAL , the God of Hosts, Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Daniel 9:4דניאל 9:4

ואתפללה ליהוה אלהי ואתודה ואמרה אנא אדני האל הגדול והנורא שמר הברית והחסד לאהביו ולשמרי מצותיו

I prayed to the ETERNAL my God, making confession thus: “O Sovereign, great and awesome God, who stays faithful to the covenant with those who show love and keep the commandments!

English translation: THE JPS TANAKH, Revised Edition (2023) © Jewish Publication Society, via Sefaria. CC BY-NC 4.0

This word starts with the Hebrew letter alef.