Lecture Notes: Understanding the Hebrew Word 'Ahavah'

Introduction

• Shema Prayer:
  • Recited by Jewish people for thousands of years as an expression of devotion to God.
  • Key words include "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one."
  • Focus today on the word "love" (Ahavah) in the context of the Shema.

The Concept of Love (Ahavah)

• Basic Definition:
  • Common in most languages; in Hebrew, pronounced ah-ha-va.
  • Refers to affection or care one person shows another.
• Types of Ahavah:
  • Physical affection: e.g., King's love for Queen Esther.
  • Parental love: e.g., Abraham's love for Isaac.
  • Brotherly love: e.g., Jonathan's love for David.
  • Loyalty: e.g., Israelites' love for King David.
  • Political alliances: e.g., Hiram's love for David.

God's Ahavah in the Old Testament

• Unconditional Love:
  • Deuteronomy: God's love for Israelites not earned but from His character.
  • Jeremiah: God's love is everlasting and eternal.
• Love as a Feeling and Action:
  • Hosea: Compared to a husband's love for his wife and a parent's love for their child.
  • Example: God bringing Israelites out of Egypt due to love for their ancestors.

Human Response to God's Ahavah

• Expressing Love Through Actions:
  • Deuteronomy 10: Fear God, walk in His ways, love and serve Him.
• Love for Others:
  • In the Old Testament, love for God reflected by treatment of others.
  • God's command to love immigrants as He does.
  • "Love your neighbor as yourself" derived from this principle.

Conclusion

• Rooted in Eternal Ahavah:
  • 1st John: "We love because God first loved us."

Additional Information

• The Bible Project:
  • Series of word studies.
  • Content available at "thebibleproject.com"
  • Non-profit, crowd-funded project.

These notes summarize the key concepts of Ahavah and its significance in the context of biblical teachings, focusing on both divine and human love.