It means *esteem less*.
Here, in the Greek
http://biblehub.com/romans/9-13.htm
http://biblehub.com/greek/3404.htm
miseó: to hate
Original Word: μισέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: miseó
Phonetic Spelling: (mis-eh'-o)
Short Definition: I hate, detest
Definition: I hate, detest, love less, esteem less.
HELPS Word-studies
3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.
Lk 14:26: "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate (3404 /miséō, 'love less' than the Lord) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple" (NASU).
[Note the comparative meaning of 3404 (miséō) which centers in moral choice, elevating one value over another.]
The verses that say that some are predestined to be saved can also mean that those God foreknew would believe and accept His offer of salvation when offered to them, He decided to save instead of sending to hell for their sin as they rightly deserve.
There are too many passages in Scripture where God tells us to choose.
Too many places where God commands or calls unbelievers and rebellious to repent and come to Him.
Places where it says that His will is that ALL come to repentance.
Love is not love if it compelled and foreordained and we are just puppets playing out the bit piece that God in His sovereignty ordained for us to do.
Do I believe in FREE will?
No. We have a will but it is not totally free. We are either slaves to sin or salves to God. We cannot come to Him unless He draws us, for sure, but if God MADE people to believe, then it is not love freely given.
I think He allows many to be born and die knowing that they will never be saved, but I do not believe for a minute that He created them just for that purpose.
“There are too many passages in Scripture where God tells us to choose.”
Amen!
Genesis 4: Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Revelation 22: “Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.”
From beginning to end, we are taught we have choices - real choices - to make. We can accept God’s free gift, or spurn it. “Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”
If I accept a gift, I am not earning it. It remains a gift. If someone else pays my debt, I cannot claim to have paid it. It remains paid by someone else.