You’re absolutely right to point out that the word “hate” in the Bible—especially in the Hebrew and Greek contexts—often does not carry the emotional, spiteful, or hostile meaning we attach to it today when we say, “I hate you!” In Scripture, this verb has a broader and more nuanced semantic range. Let’s explore the key meanings and nuances of the word “hate” (שָׂנֵא – śānēʼ in Hebrew and μισέω – miseō in Greek) in these contexts:

🔍 1. “Hate” as a Covenantal or Relational Preference

In Genesis 29:31, when it says “Leah was hated”, it likely means:

• “Leah was not loved as much” (compared to Rachel)
• This expresses relational neglect or lower status, not active hostility.

✅ Modern translations often reflect this nuance:

“When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb…” (NKJV, NASB, NIV)

This is more about comparative love than emotional hatred.

📖 2. “Hate” in the Context of Divine Election (Malachi & Romans)

When Scripture says:

“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Malachi 1:2–3; quoted in Romans 9:13)

It is not suggesting that God emotionally despised Esau, but that:

• God chose Jacob for the covenantal line
• God did not choose Esau for the same role

This use of “hate” reflects a covenantal distinction, not personal animosity. It’s a Semitic idiom of contrast—“to love X and hate Y” = “to choose X over Y.”

📌 This is also seen in Luke 14:26:
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother… he cannot be my disciple.”
Jesus is not calling for emotional rejection but for ultimate loyalty to Him above all earthly ties.

💡 3. “Hate” as a Legal or Social Disfavor

In some biblical contexts, “hate” indicates:

• Rejection in legal cases (e.g., a hated wife in Deuteronomy 21:15)
• A broken relationship or severed covenant
• A turning away rather than enmity

🧠 Summary of Biblical Usage:

Modern “Hate”	Biblical “Hate” (Common Meanings)
Emotional hostility	Lesser preference
Intense loathing	Non-election (in God’s purposes)
Desire for harm	Rejection or non-covenantal status
Personal animosity	Relational or covenantal contrast

🛎️ Why This Matters

Misunderstanding this word can lead to:

• Thinking God is arbitrary or cruel
• Misreading God’s character or justice
• Missing the richness of biblical idioms and Hebrew thought patterns

So, when we read “Esau I hated,” or “Leah was hated,” we should not imagine God or Jacob walking around muttering with clenched fists. Rather, we should see:

• Divine election at work in God’s sovereign plan
• Relational dynamics in human stories shaped by love, preference, neglect, or rejection—not hate as modern emotional hostility

Excellent follow-up! Yes, the Hebrew and Greek words typically translated “hate” (שָׂנֵא – śānēʼ and μισέω – miseō) are used in contexts of emotional and moral rejection—but when it comes to God’s attitude toward sin, the biblical language often becomes more intensified, specific, or moral in tone. So while śānēʼ can be used, other words and expressions are also employed to more clearly express God’s wrath, revulsion, or judicial stance against sin.

Let’s break this down into three parts:

📌 1. Yes, “śānēʼ” (hate) is Sometimes Used for Moral Disdain

There are times when the same root (שָׂנֵא) is used to express genuine loathing or moral rejection, particularly regarding evil:

• Proverbs 6:16–19:
  

  “There are six things the Lord hates (שָׂנֵא), seven that are an abomination to him…”
  — followed by a list of sins like lying, shedding innocent blood, and sowing discord.

• Psalm 5:5–6:
  

  “You hate (שָׂנֵא) all evildoers… the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”

• Isaiah 61:8:
  

  “For I the LORD love justice; I hate (שָׂנֵא) robbery and wrongdoing.”

🧠 In these cases, śānēʼ conveys deep moral revulsion, not just preference or relational distancing.

📌 2. Other Hebrew Words Intensify God’s Hatred of Sin

When Scripture wants to express God’s holy opposition to sin, it often uses stronger or more emotionally charged words, such as:

🔥 “To abhor” – תָּעַב (taʿab) or תּוֹעֵבָה (toʿevah)

• Refers to something detestable, repulsive, ritually or morally disgusting.
• Often used for idolatry, sexual immorality, injustice.
• Example: “You shall not do any of these abominations (תּוֹעֵבָה)” — Leviticus 18:26

⚖️ **“To be displeased” – קָצַף (qatsaph) or אַף (aph – anger/wrath)

• Conveys God’s burning anger, especially in judgment contexts.
• Example: “The anger of the LORD burned against Israel…” — Judges 2:20

👃 “To be a stench” (figurative) – אַף or idiomatic expressions

• Certain sins are described as a “stench in God’s nostrils”, implying revulsion.

📌 3. Greek NT Parallels: “Hate” vs. Wrath Toward Sin

In the New Testament, μισέω (miseō – hate) can sometimes describe moral or relational rejection:

Hebrews 1:9 (quoting Ps 45:7):

“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness…” (Greek: ἐμίσησας)

But for sin, more commonly we see:

🩸 Greek Words for God’s Wrath and Disdain for Sin:

• ὀργή (orgē) – wrath, righteous indignation (Romans 1:18)
• θυμός (thymos) – passionate anger or fury (Revelation 16:1)
• βδέλυγμα (bdelygma) – abomination, detestable thing (Luke 16:15; Revelation)

🔥 “The wrath (ὀργή) of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness…” – Romans 1:18
❗ “That which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination (βδέλυγμα) in the sight of God.” – Luke 16:15

🧠 Summary: Is “Hate” the Same Toward Sin and People Like Esau?

Context	Word Used	Meaning	Emotional Tone
Jacob vs. Esau	שָׂנֵא / μισέω	Covenant preference	Contrast, not hostility
Leah “hated”	שָׂנֵא	Loved less	Relational comparison
God and Sin	שָׂנֵא, תּוֹעֵבָה, ὀργή, βδέλυγμα	Moral revulsion, holy wrath	Strong emotional rejection

🙌 Final Thought

So while the same Hebrew root for “hate” (śānēʼ) can appear across relational, covenantal, and moral contexts, the way it’s used matters greatly—and Scripture provides a richer vocabulary for when God’s hatred is aimed at sin, not merely when distinguishing between people or choosing whom to use in His plan.