Ahava is the Hebrew word for love in its broad, warm sense — the love between friends, family, and lovers, and above all the love owed to God. Where hesed stresses covenant loyalty, ahava captures the affection and desire of the heart. It is the word at the centre of Israel's great command: thou shalt ahava the LORD thy God with all thine heart.
Ahava runs from the Song of Solomon's declaration that many waters cannot quench love, to the command to love your neighbour as yourself. Scripture roots all human love in God, who loved his people first. To love God with heart, soul, and might, and to love neighbour as self, is the whole law in two words — and ahava is the word.
Ahava in Scripture
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.