Greek word · Strong's G26

ἀγάπη

agápē · noun · “love (self-giving)”

In a sentence

Agapē is the New Testament’s word for self-giving love — a love defined by deliberate action and the good of another, not by feeling or attraction. It is the love God shows at the cross and calls his people to imitate.

Of the Greek words for love, agapē is the one the New Testament reaches for to describe God’s love and the love he commands. It is less about emotion or affection (the warmth of philia) or desire (erōs) and more about a settled commitment to seek another’s good — even at cost, even toward the undeserving.

This is why John can write “God so loved (ēgapēsen) the world” and why Paul’s famous description in 1 Corinthians 13 defines this love by what it does: patient, kind, not self-seeking. Agapē is love you can command because it is love you choose, modeled supremely by Christ laying down his life.

Strong's reference

Definition: love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast

KJV usage: (feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” 1 John 4:8 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.