Anne,
You asked:
I am confused, Ray mentioned that the Greek word for hate means to love less?
You are correct, Ray did mention that the GREEK word for hate means by extension to love less.
Look at Romans 9:13 - As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
As Joe mentioned, this is the greek word:
...............................
G3404
miseō
mis-eh'-o
From a primary word μῖσος misos (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension to love less: - hate (-ful).
...............................
Now I believe that Ray mentioned this in the audio study but Romans 9:13 (New Testament) is a quote from the first chapter of Malachi (Old Testament).
The reason I am pointing this out is that the OT and the NT are written in completely different languages, therefore we cannot look to the Greek meaning of a word that is quoted from a text that was written in the Hebrew language originally to gain proper understanding.
Here is the original verse from Malachi 1:2-3:
"I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness."
Check out the definition for "hate" from the Hebrew:
...............................
H8130
śânê'
saw-nay'
A primitive root; to hate (personally): - enemy, foe, (be) hate (-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
...............................
The Hebrew definition leaves no room for to love less
no, instead to hate (personally)
utterly.
The question we are left with is can God love someone and hate them at the same time?
What do the scriptures say?
Ecc 3:1, 8 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven... A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace
According to the scriptures, there is definitely a time to HATE, even for God
but how long will Gods hatred last? Eternally? God Forbid!
Instead, Gods agapao for the entire creation will out last His temporary hatred
and one day we will all experience the phileo of our Father.
Hope this helps shed some light.
Grace and Peace.
Josh