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LadyGrace Hate is a pretty strong statement.
There are various meanings for hate in the Bible. It means to love someone or something less than someone or something else.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own soul, he cannot be my disciple. " (Luke 14:26; See Genesis 29:31,33; Deuteronomy 21:15,16)
Also to hate the wicked, those who are opposed to Jehovah, is a righteous form of hate.
“Do I not hate those who are intensely hating you, O Jehovah, and do I not feel a loathing for those revolting against you? With a complete hatred I do hate them. They have become to me real enemies.” (Psalm 139:21,22; See 2 Chronicles 19:2; Romans 12:9, 17,19)
The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus's day had a tendency to miss the heart of the law by thinking to take it to an extreme was better than falling short. For example, they criticized Jesus and his disciples for not washing their hands before meals when they did in fact wash them but the religious leaders didn't consider it valid unless they washed up to the elbows. They also did the same with hating one's enemies. Jesus corrected this thinking.
“You heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you." (Matthew 5:43-44)
The Bible says a father who spares the rod hates his son due to the harm it causes. (Proverbs 13:24)
There's a difference between righteous hate and unrighteous hate. The righteous hate means to have nothing to do with. To scorn and avoid. Unrighteous hate involves wishing or delighting in harm of another. That I don't do.
