Topical Bible: Jealous

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In the Bible, the term "jealous" is used to describe both a human emotion and an attribute of God. It is important to understand the context in which jealousy is mentioned to grasp its full meaning and implications.

Divine Jealousy:

God's jealousy is a central theme in the Scriptures, particularly in the context of His covenant relationship with Israel. Unlike human jealousy, which can often be rooted in selfishness or insecurity, divine jealousy is a righteous and protective zeal for His people and His holiness. God's jealousy is an expression of His love and commitment to His covenant, desiring exclusive devotion from His people.

In Exodus 20:5, God declares, "You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me." Here, God's jealousy is linked to His prohibition against idolatry, emphasizing His demand for exclusive worship.

Similarly, in Deuteronomy 4:24, it is stated, "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." This verse underscores the intensity of God's desire for His people to remain faithful to Him, warning against the spiritual adultery of idolatry.

The prophet Ezekiel also speaks of God's jealousy in the context of Israel's unfaithfulness. In Ezekiel 16:38, God says, "I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood, and bring upon you the wrath of bloodshed and jealousy." This illustrates how God's jealousy is provoked by Israel's spiritual infidelity.

Human Jealousy:

Human jealousy, on the other hand, is often portrayed in the Bible as a negative emotion that can lead to sin. It is frequently associated with envy, rivalry, and strife. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul warns against jealousy as a work of the flesh. In Galatians 5:19-21, he lists jealousy among the acts of the sinful nature, stating, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."

James also addresses the destructive nature of jealousy in James 3:14-16: "But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice."

Jealousy in Relationships:

The Bible provides examples of jealousy in human relationships, often leading to conflict and sin. In Genesis 37, Joseph's brothers become jealous of him because of their father's favoritism and Joseph's dreams, which ultimately leads them to sell him into slavery.

In 1 Samuel 18, King Saul becomes jealous of David's success and popularity, which results in Saul's attempts to kill David. This narrative highlights how jealousy can consume an individual and lead to destructive behavior.

Conclusion:

In summary, the concept of jealousy in the Bible encompasses both the righteous jealousy of God, which demands exclusive devotion and faithfulness, and the sinful jealousy of humans, which can lead to strife and discord. Understanding the distinction between these two forms of jealousy is crucial for interpreting biblical texts and applying their lessons to one's life.

Topical Bible Verses

1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Topicalbible.org

James 4:2
You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not.
Topicalbible.org

Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Topicalbible.org

Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Zealous; solicitous; vigilant; anxiously watchful.

2. (a.) Apprehensive; anxious; suspiciously watchful.

3. (a.) Exacting exclusive devotion; intolerant of rivalry.

4. (a.) Disposed to suspect rivalry in matters of interest and affection; apprehensive regarding the motives of possible rivals, or the fidelity of friends; distrustful; having morbid fear of rivalry in love or preference given to another; painfully suspicious of the faithfulness of husband, wife, or lover.

Greek

2206. zeloo -- to be jealous
... to be jealous. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: zeloo Phonetic Spelling:
(dzay-lo'-o) Short Definition: I am jealous, eager for Definition: (a) intrans: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2206.htm - 7k

2205a. zeleuo -- to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be ...
... 2205, 2205a. zeleuo. 2205b . to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be
zealous or jealous. Transliteration: zeleuo Short Definition: zealous. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2205a.htm - 5k

2205. zelos -- to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be ...
... to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be zealous or jealous. Part of Speech:
Noun, Masculine; Noun, Neuter Transliteration: zelos Phonetic Spelling: (dzay ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2205.htm - 7k

3863. parazeloo -- to provoke to jealousy
... to provoke to jealousy. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: parazeloo Phonetic
Spelling: (par-ad-zay-lo'-o) Short Definition: I make jealous Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3863.htm - 7k

5354. phthoneo -- to envy
... See 5355 (). Word Origin from phthonos Definition to envy NASB Word Usage envying
(1). envy. From phthonos; to be jealous of -- envy. see GREEK phthonos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5354.htm - 6k

5355. phthonos -- envy
... misfortune or pain. 5355 ("the feeling of ") refers to the jealous envy that
negatively "energizes" someone with an . 5355 ("ill-will ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5355.htm - 7k

3788. ophthalmos -- the eye
... eye, sight. From optanomai; the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication,
vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance) -- eye, sight. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3788.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

7065. qanah -- to be jealous or zealous
... 7064, 7065. qanah. 7066 . to be jealous or zealous. Transliteration: qanah
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-naw') Short Definition: jealous. ...
/hebrew/7065.htm - 6k

7067. qanna -- jealous
... 7066, 7067. qanna. 7068 . jealous. Transliteration: qanna Phonetic Spelling:
(kan-naw') Short Definition: jealous. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/7067.htm - 6k

7072. qanno -- jealous
... 7071, 7072. qanno. 7073 . jealous. Transliteration: qanno Phonetic Spelling:
(kan-no') Short Definition: jealous. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/7072.htm - 6k

7520. ratsad -- to watch (stealthily)
... leap. A primitive root; probably to look askant, ie (figuratively) be jealous --
leap. 7519, 7520. ratsad. 7521 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7520.htm - 5k

Library

God a Jealous God.
... Homily XI. Chapter IX."God a Jealous God. "But, you say, we do better when
we are thankful at once to Him and to all others. Now ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter ix god a jealous god.htm

A Jealous God
... A Jealous God. A Sermon (No.502). ... CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan Tabernacle,
Newington. "For the Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God.""Exodus 34:14. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/a jealous god.htm

How God is Jealous of Us.
... CHAPTER XIII. HOW GOD IS JEALOUS OF US. God speaks thus: I am the Lord thy
God, a jealous God. [464] The Lord his name is jealous. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xiii how god is.htm

I Will Run in My Affections, to Him who Heals Freely
... 13. Be jealous over me who am Thine, and to Thee, O my Lord: am I betrothed! The
Apostle who betrothed me to Thee, told me that Thou art jealous. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn vi i will run.htm

Of the Zeal or Jealousy which we have for Our Lord.
... comparison there is between those who enjoy the brightness of the sun, and those
who have only the paltry light of a lamp; the former are not jealous of one ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xiv of the zeal.htm

2 Cor. xi. 1
... And therefore he added, "For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy [916] ."
He did not say, for I love you,' but uses a term far more vehement than this. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxiii 2 cor xi.htm

The Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood
... apake unto Moses, saying, Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, hath turned
away My wrath from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with My ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/chapter xv the covenant of.htm

How Love Produces Zeal.
... But jealousy is not grieved at our neighbour's having some good provided that it
is not our good: for the jealous man does not grieve at his fellow's being ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii how love produces.htm

Love of God and Man
... And then thou wilt find that God is a jealous God, and will take from thee what
thou lovest, because He will not have His honour given to another. ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xvii love of god.htm

What Doest Thou Here?
... be that in such an hour we may be able to answer our Heavenly Father when He questions
us, as Elijah was able to answer: "I have been very jealous for the Lord ...
//christianbookshelf.org/percival/sermons at rugby/vi what doest thou here.htm

Thesaurus

Jealous (43 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Jealous (43 Occurrences). ... (Root in WEY NAS RSV). 2
Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. ...
/j/jealous.htm - 20k

Envy (56 Occurrences)
... Testament. It is to be distinguished from jealousy. "We are jealous of our
own; we are envious of another man's possessions. Jealousy ...
/e/envy.htm - 28k

Suspects (2 Occurrences)
... Numbers 5:14 and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife,
and she is defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is ...
/s/suspects.htm - 7k

Jealousy (54 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) The quality of being jealous; earnest concern or ...
(WEY). 2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. ...
/j/jealousy.htm - 29k

Visiting (10 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh
your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the ...
/v/visiting.htm - 10k

Zealot (4 Occurrences)
... SIMON THE CANAANITE; SIMON THE CANANAEAN; SIMON THE ZEALOT. (Simon Kananaios;
kanna'i, "the Jealous (or Zealous) One"): One of the Twelve Apostles. ...
/z/zealot.htm - 12k

Feelings (26 Occurrences)
... Numbers 5:14 and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife,
and she is defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is ...
/f/feelings.htm - 14k

Emulation (5 Occurrences)
... or excel another; rivalry. 2. (n.) Jealous rivalry; envy; envious contention.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EMULATION. em-u-la ...
/e/emulation.htm - 9k

Altars (55 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 19:10 He said, "I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies;
for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars ...
/a/altars.htm - 25k

Impure (28 Occurrences)
... Numbers 5:14 and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife,
and she is defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is ...
/i/impure.htm - 14k

Resources

Why is God a jealous God? | GotQuestions.org

What is the difference between envy and jealousy, biblically speaking? | GotQuestions.org

What is godly jealousy? | GotQuestions.org

Jealous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Jealous (43 Occurrences)

Acts 7:9
"The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,
(Root in WEB WEY ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 17:5
But the jealousy of the Jews was aroused, and, calling to their aid some ill-conditioned and idle fellows, they got together a riotous mob and filled the city with uproar. They then attacked the house of Jason and searched for Paul and Silas, to bring them out before the assembly of people.
(Root in WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 10:19
But I ask, didn't Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Romans 11:11
I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Romans 11:14
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.
(Root in WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind. Love knows neither envy nor jealousy. Love is not forward and self-assertive, nor boastful and conceited.
(Root in WEY NAS RSV)

2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 30:1
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I will die."
(See NAS NIV)

Genesis 37:11
His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 20:5
you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 34:14
for you shall worship no other god: for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 5:14
and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she is defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she isn't defiled:
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 5:30
or when the spirit of jealousy comes on a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall set the woman before Yahweh, and the priest shall execute on her all this law.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 11:29
Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh's people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!"
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 25:11
"Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn't consume the children of Israel in my jealousy.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Numbers 25:13
and it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.'"
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 4:24
For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 5:9
you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 6:15
for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 32:16
They moved him to jealousy with strange gods. They provoked him to anger with abominations.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 32:21
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 24:19
Joshua said to the people, "You can't serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 18:9
Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 14:22
Judah did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 19:10
He said, "I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

1 Kings 19:14
He said, "I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Job 36:33
Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
(See RSV)

Psalms 79:5
How long, Yahweh? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 106:16
They envied Moses also in the camp, And Aaron the saint of Jehovah.
(See JPS RSV)

Isaiah 11:13
And the envy of Ephraim will be gone, and those who make trouble for Judah will come to an end: Ephraim will have no more envy of Judah, and there will be an end of Judah's hate for Ephraim.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 8:3
He put forth the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and the sky, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the gate of the inner court that looks toward the north; where there was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:38
I will judge you, as women who break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:42
So will I cause my wrath toward you to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from you, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:25
I will set my jealousy against you, and they shall deal with you in fury; they shall take away your nose and your ears; and your residue shall fall by the sword: they shall take your sons and your daughters; and your residue shall be devoured by the fire.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 31:9
I made it beautiful by the multitude of its branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied it.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 36:6
Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and tell the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because you have borne the shame of the nations:
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 39:25
Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Now will I bring back the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for my holy name.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Joel 2:18
Then Yahweh was jealous for his land, And had pity on his people.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Nahum 1:2
Yahweh is a jealous God and avenges. Yahweh avenges and is full of wrath. Yahweh takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of Yahweh's wrath, but the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he will make an end, yes, a terrible end, of all those who dwell in the land.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Zephaniah 3:8
"Therefore wait for me," says Yahweh, "until the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Zechariah 1:14
So the angel who talked with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying,'Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 8:2
Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Jealous

Related Terms

Outbursts (5 Occurrences)

Jealous (43 Occurrences)

Jealously (1 Occurrence)

Wraths (1 Occurrence)

Israel (27466 Occurrences)

Fits (2 Occurrences)

Rivalries (1 Occurrence)

Rage (43 Occurrences)

Enmities (1 Occurrence)