Greek · Strong's G5368
φιλέω
philéō (fil-EH-oh)
verb
To love with the warmth of personal affection and friendship; to be fond of, cherish, or kiss as a sign of love.
Phileō is the verb of friendship-love. Where agapaō (G25) most often denotes settled, sacrificial commitment, phileō names the warm, instinctive affection one has for family, close friends, and the things one delights in. Both can be used of God, and their fields of meaning overlap significantly—it is a popular oversimplification to say phileō is always lesser or merely emotional.
The verb appears about twenty-five times. Jesus uses it of the Father's love for the Son (John 5:20) and for the disciples (John 16:27). He uses it negatively, too: those who phileō the praise of men (Matthew 6:5), their own lives in this world (John 12:25), or the chief seats at banquets (Matthew 23:6) have set their affections in the wrong place. Revelation 22:15 warns of those who "love a lie."
The most discussed passage is John 21:15-17, where Jesus questions Peter three times. Twice Jesus asks with agapaō; each time Peter answers with phileō. The third time Jesus condescends to Peter's vocabulary—"do you phileō me?"—and Peter, grieved, appeals to Jesus' own knowledge. Many readers see Jesus gently meeting Peter where his shattered confidence will let him stand, restoring him to ministry not despite his frailty but in full view of it. Whatever the precise nuance, the passage shows that personal, affectionate love for Christ is the qualification Jesus seeks in those who feed His sheep.
Common English renderings
- love
- kiss
- be fond of
Key verses
"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
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"For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel."
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"for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father."
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"So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs."
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"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
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"If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha."
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Related words