# lover

## Definition:

The term "lover" literally means "person who loves." 

* Usually "lover" refers to people who are in a sexual relationship with each other.
* In the Old Testament book Song of Songs, the term "lover" is used in a positive way.
* In other parts of the Bible, it often refers to a person who is involved in a sexual relationship with someone he or she is not married to.
* This wrong sexual relationship is often used in the Bible to refer to Israel's disobedience to God in worshiping idols. So the term "lovers" is also used in a figurative way to refer to the idols that the people of Israel worshiped. In these contexts, this term could possibly be translated by "immoral partners" or "partners in adultery" or "idols." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

(See also: [adultery](../kt/adultery.md), [false god](../kt/falsegod.md), [false god](../kt/falsegod.md), [love](../kt/love.md))

## Bible References:

* [Hosea 02:05](rc://en/tn/help/hos/02/05)
* [Jeremiah 03:02](rc://en/tn/help/jer/03/02)
* [Lamentations 01:02](rc://en/tn/help/lam/01/02)
* [Luke 16:14](rc://en/tn/help/luk/16/14)

## Word Data:

* Strong's: H157, H158, H868, H5689, H7453, H8566

## Forms Found in the English ULB:

lover, lovers


