It is abundantly evident from Scripture that God is a holy, righteous judge who detests sin. He hates sin because He loves justice, righteousness, and purity, not merely because He is angry. God’s flawless nature is opposed by sin, which also corrupts His creation and distances humanity from Him. It is a sobering reminder that God does not overlook evil in these verses. Because of its destructive potential and disobedience to His divine order, He detests it instead.
God’s love for us is reflected in His detest of sin. He cannot stand the existence of sin, which defiles and destroys, since He longs to have a connection with His people. The Bible verses about God hating sin repeatedly demonstrates that God addresses sin, not just to punish but to call sinners to repentance and reconciliation. He hates sin because He loves what is good, pure, and life-giving; His justice and mercy go hand in hand.
God’s opposition to sin is constant from the first few chapters of Genesis to the cautions in Revelation. Pride, dishonesty, injustice, idolatry, and all evil are things he abhors. These texts are calls to examine our hearts, confess our sins, and seek the grace that brings about change, not just cautions. Although God detests sin, He also offers a solution in the form of Jesus’ blood, which purifies and righteousifies us in His sight.
Knowing that God detests sin ought to instill awe in us and motivate us to seek holiness. These passages from the Bible serve as a reminder of both the gravity of sin and the splendor of God’s holiness. They exhort us to align our hearts with God’s rather than to excuse or put up with what He rejects. By doing this, we not only glorify Him but also enjoy the liberty and happiness that come with living a moral life.
30 Powerful Bible Verses About God Hating Sin in 2025
1. Proverbs 6:16–19
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood…”
This passage is one of the clearest revelations of what God hates—specific sinful behaviors, not people. These actions directly oppose God’s character and justice. While some may feel distant from God due to guilt or sin, this verse clarifies that His hatred is toward evil, not the person. Recognizing this helps us approach repentance with clarity and humility.
2. Psalm 5:5
“The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong.”
Here, the psalmist declares a sobering truth: God opposes the wicked. His holiness is so pure that He cannot tolerate unrepentant sin. While this verse sounds harsh, it underlines the seriousness of rebellion against God and calls us to holiness, repentance, and reverence.
3. Hosea 9:15
“Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house.”
God’s hatred here is directed toward persistent idolatry and covenant-breaking by Israel. This is not arbitrary anger, but righteous judgment after countless chances for repentance. The verse reveals that God’s hatred is the result of a deeply wounded love and long-suffering patience pushed beyond limits.
4. Malachi 1:3
“But Esau I have hated, and Jacob I have loved…”
This verse is often misunderstood. It doesn’t suggest emotional hatred but a covenantal rejection. God chose Jacob (Israel) for a special purpose, while Esau’s descendants (Edom) represented rebellion. God’s “hatred” reflects divine judgment and sovereign selection, not random disdain.
5. Romans 9:13
“Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’”
Paul echoes Malachi here, emphasizing God’s sovereignty in choosing whom He uses for His redemptive plan. This verse isn’t about personal hatred but God’s divine right to raise or reject nations for His purposes. It challenges our human concepts of fairness with divine perspective.
6. Leviticus 20:23
“Do not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.”
God’s hatred here is toward deeply entrenched wickedness and cultural perversion that led to judgment. This warning to Israel reinforces the call to holiness. It shows that God’s anger arises when sin reaches a point of total corruption.
7. Psalm 11:5
“The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”
This verse reveals that God’s passionate hatred is against those who delight in cruelty and destruction. It emphasizes that God sees, judges, and will not leave violence unpunished. It’s a comfort to the oppressed and a warning to the wicked.
8. Zechariah 8:17
“Do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.
Here, God plainly states His hatred for deceit and treachery among His people. This verse isn’t about emotional rage but moral revulsion. It teaches us to mirror God’s values and walk in truth and love.
9. Amos 5:21
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.”
God expresses hatred not for worship itself, but for hypocritical religion void of justice. When rituals replace righteousness, God is offended. This verse reminds us that true worship must be aligned with justice and mercy.
10. Isaiah 1:14
“Your New Moons and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.”
Similar to Amos, God rebukes empty religious practices from a people living in sin. His hatred here exposes a divine intolerance for hypocrisy. Worship without obedience offends God rather than pleasing Him.
11. Jeremiah 12:8
“My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her.”
God refers to His people, Judah, who had rebelled so completely that He describes them as wild and dangerous. His “hatred” here expresses a heart broken by betrayal. It demonstrates that rebellion against God’s love invites divine judgment, even on those He once called His own.
12. Isaiah 61:8
“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing.”
God defines His moral standards clearly—He loves justice and hates injustice. This verse shows that divine hatred is rooted in righteousness. God opposes exploitation and dishonesty, especially when committed in His name or among His people.
13. Revelation 2:6
“But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
In His message to the church in Ephesus, Jesus commends them for hating corrupt teachings. This shows that hatred can be righteous when it aligns with God’s hatred for destructive doctrines. God calls His people to oppose heresy and uphold truth.
14. Revelation 2:15–16
“Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
This continuation reveals that God actively resists false teaching. His hatred isn’t silent or passive—it moves Him to confront lies and protect His truth. This verse reminds us that divine opposition awaits those who corrupt the gospel.
15. Psalm 78:59
“When God heard them, he was furious; he rejected Israel completely.”
This verse highlights how persistent disobedience and ingratitude stirred God’s anger. His rejection was not random but a response to rebellion. It shows that even God’s chosen people can fall under judgment when they continually reject His grace.
16. Proverbs 15:9
“The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.”
This verse contrasts two paths—one God hates, the other He loves. It’s a sobering call to choose righteousness. God doesn’t arbitrarily hate people; He detests the way of sin because it leads to destruction.
17. Proverbs 15:26
“The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.”
God not only judges actions but also thoughts. This verse shows that His hatred extends to the inner corruptions of the wicked. Yet it also points to what pleases Him—truth spoken in grace.
18. Proverbs 17:15
“Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both.”
God’s justice is clear and unwavering. He hates legal and moral perversions, especially when authority is abused. This verse reminds us that God’s hatred is directed at systems and actions that violate truth and fairness.
19. Psalm 10:3
“He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.”
This verse highlights the arrogance and godlessness that invite divine wrath. Though it doesn’t use the word “hate” explicitly, it shows the kind of behavior that grieves and provokes God.
20. Psalm 45:7
“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions…”
This messianic psalm reveals the nature of Christ Himself: a passionate love for good and hatred for evil. True godliness reflects this balance—loving what is pure and hating what is sinful.
21. Zechariah 11:8
“In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them.”
This dramatic image shows mutual rejection—God grew weary of unfaithful leaders and people who rejected Him. His “hatred” is portrayed as divine exhaustion with persistent rebellion, not irrational emotion.
22. Psalm 106:40
“Therefore the Lord was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.”
This verse reflects divine disgust at Israel’s idolatry. It’s a reminder that continued sin leads to God’s rejection. It shows that divine love has limits when confronted with relentless defiance.
23. Isaiah 63:10
“Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.”
Here, God is described as turning against His people when they resisted His Spirit. His opposition is not hatred in the human sense but righteous judgment provoked by grief and betrayal.
24. Lamentations 2:6
“He has laid waste his dwelling like a garden; he has destroyed his place of meeting. The Lord has made Zion forget her appointed festivals and her Sabbaths; in his fierce anger he has spurned both king and priest.”
This verse describes the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as God’s fierce judgment on sin. His “spurning” expresses the extreme consequences of covenant betrayal, not emotional hatred.
25. Ezekiel 23:18
“When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.”
Using vivid imagery, this verse shows how deeply God detests spiritual unfaithfulness. His turning away reveals the sorrow and revulsion caused by sin when His people chase idols.
26. Deuteronomy 16:22
“And do not erect a sacred stone, for these the Lord your God hates.”
God’s hatred is directed at idolatry and pagan worship. This verse clarifies that divine hatred is always linked to that which opposes His holiness and leads people away from truth.
27. Psalm 50:17
“You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.”
Here, the hatred is from man toward God—but it reflects back on God’s judgment. When people reject His Word, they place themselves under His displeasure. This verse is a warning against spiritual arrogance.
28. Leviticus 26:30
“I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you.”
This verse shows how God’s wrath is provoked by persistent idolatry. The word “abhor” expresses divine disgust toward defilement. It shows that sin leads to separation, not intimacy, with God.
29. Deuteronomy 32:19
“The Lord saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters.”
God’s rejection was provoked by Israel’s spiritual adultery. This verse demonstrates the heartache of a loving Father turned away by betrayal. His hatred flows from love scorned.
30. Nahum 1:2
“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.”
This final verse reinforces that God’s hatred is not wild fury but righteous vengeance against evil. He is not passive toward injustice—His hatred ensures judgment and justice for those who oppose Him.
Conclusion
The Bible makes it quite evident that God’s holiness and justice are the root causes of His hatred for sin. Sin is rebellion against God’s own nature, not just an error or a weakness. These words clarify that God’s intolerance of sin is a sign of holiness rather than cruelty. It is necessary to deal with everything that contradicts his absolute goodness. His love for justice, truth, purity, and ultimately for us is reflected in His disdain of sin.
These texts highlight God’s fervent opposition to sin, but they also highlight His great mercy and longing for redemption. The sin that ends lives, breaks relationships, and results in spiritual death is what God detests, not the sinner. He sent Jesus as the best remedy because of this. We are called into a restored relationship with our Creator and provided a means of escaping the hold of sin via Christ. His kindness is freely extended to everyone who repents, and His justice is fulfilled via the cross.
Let these Scriptures inspire a desire for holiness as well as a healthy fear of the consequences of sin as we consider them. God exhorts us to walk in the light of His truth and turn from sin. His distaste for sin is not a condemnation but a challenge to change. We start to experience the freedom and fullness that come from being set apart for Him when we align our hearts with His and reject what He rejects.
