# Is “Hate the sin, love the sinner” in the Bible?

> No. “Hate the sin, love the sinner” is not a Bible verse. It comes from Christian tradition, not Scripture.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/hate-the-sin-love-the-sinner
By Andrew Kittridge · October 28, 2026

The idea draws on Scripture, but the phrasing is not in it. Romans 5:8 shows God’s love for sinners, and Jude 22-23 pairs mercy for people with hatred of what stains them.

Christian tradition, not Scripture. Origin: Adapted from a letter by Augustine (Letter 211), which speaks of love for people and hatred of sins.

## What the Bible says instead

> But God makes his own love for us plain: Christ died for us when we were still sinners.
>
> — [Romans 5:8](https://www.lumin.faith/read/romans/5#8) (Lumin Translation)

> Have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and to still others show mercy with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
>
> — [Jude 1:22-23](https://www.lumin.faith/read/jude/1#22) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “Hate the sin, love the sinner” in the Bible?

No. “Hate the sin, love the sinner” is not a Bible verse. It comes from Christian tradition, not Scripture. The idea draws on Scripture, but the phrasing is not in it. Romans 5:8 shows God’s love for sinners, and Jude 22-23 pairs mercy for people with hatred of what stains them.

### Where does “Hate the sin, love the sinner” come from?

Adapted from a letter by Augustine (Letter 211), which speaks of love for people and hatred of sins.

### What does the Bible say instead?

Read Romans 5:8, Jude 1:22-23. The idea draws on Scripture, but the phrasing is not in it. Romans 5:8 shows God’s love for sinners, and Jude 22-23 pairs mercy for people with hatred of what stains them.

## More

- [Is “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/idle-hands-are-the-devils-workshop.md)
- [Is “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/neither-a-borrower-nor-a-lender-be.md)
- [Is “What goes around comes around” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/what-goes-around-comes-around.md)
- [Is “Bible” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/bible.md)
- [Is “Dog” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/dog.md)
- [Is “Hell” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/hell.md)
- [Is “Religion” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/religion.md)
- [Is “Unicorn” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/unicorn.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)