A strong feeling of possessiveness, often caused by the possibility that something which belongs, or ought to belong, to one is about to be taken away. The word can be used in a positive sense (e.g., the jealousy of God), meaning a passionate commitment to something which rightly belongs to one. It can also be used in a negative sense (e.g., human jealousy), to mean a self-destructive human emotion similar to envy.
God's jealousy for his people
God's jealousy demands an exclusive response from his people
Exodus 20:4–6 See also Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 32:16, Deuteronomy 32:21
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship 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 generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
God pictured as a jealous husband with an unfaithful wife
God is jealously protective of his people
Joel 2:18 See also Isaiah 26:11; Zechariah 1:14–15, Zechariah 8:2
Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people.
God possessiveness expresses itself in judgment on his people's unfaithfulness
Deuteronomy 4:24 See also Deuteronomy 6:15, Deuteronomy 29:20; Joshua 24:19; 1 Kings 14:22; Ezekiel 23:25, Ezekiel 36:6; Nahum 1:2; Zephaniah 1:18, Zephaniah 3:8
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Human jealousy is potentially destructive
Human jealousy arises from sin
Mark 7:21–23 parallel Matthew 15:19–20
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”
Human jealousy can be destructive
Proverbs 14:30 See also Job 5:2; Proverbs 27:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5–6
A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Human jealousy is criticised by Scripture
Galatians 5:19–21 See also Psalm 37:1–2; Proverbs 23:17; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7; Titus 3:3–5; James 3:14–16
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Examples of jealousy
In the OT
Genesis 4:3–5 Cain and Abel; Genesis 27:41 Esau and Jacob; Genesis 30:1 Rachel and Leah; Genesis 37:4; Acts 7:9; 1 Samuel 18:6–9 Saul and David; Isaiah 11:13 Ephraim and Judah
In the early church
Acts 5:17, Acts 13:45, Acts 17:5; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.