Overview
The Bible addresses affections across 39 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, Galatians and Romans. Closely related themes include Affections, the, Self-Denial, Adultery and Commandments. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Balaam, Balak and Jezebel.
Key Bible verses about affections
Old Testament
Psalms
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Maschil: or, A Psalm giving instruction of the sons, etc panteth: Heb. brayeth
For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: They soon: Heb. They made haste, they forgat
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. consumed: Heb. cut me off
Isaiah
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. aloud: Heb. with the throat
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
Ezekiel
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. as the: Heb. according to the coming of the people they sit: or, my people sit before thee they shew: Heb. they make loves, or, jests
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. a very: Heb. a song of loves
New Testament
Matthew
Luke
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
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.
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Romans
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: without natural: or unsociable
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Galatians
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Where: or, What was then
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. exclude you: or, exclude us
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. affections: or, passions
1 Thessalonians
2 Timothy
2 Peter
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. government: or, dominion
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. clean: or, for a little, or, a while, as some read
Revelation
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
People in the Bible and affections
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying affections for yourself
- Begin with Deuteronomy 6:5, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Psalms, Galatians and Romans each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Jesus, Balaam and Balak and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Affections, the, Self-Denial, Adultery and Commandments.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about affections?
The Bible addresses affections across 39 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, Galatians and Romans. Closely related themes include Affections, the, Self-Denial, Adultery and Commandments. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Balaam, Balak and Jezebel.
How many Bible verses are about affections?
The Bible references affections in 39 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention affections?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Deuteronomy 6:5: “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with affections?
Jesus, Balaam, Balak and Jezebel.
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