Jealousy: What do we all need to know about it?
Let us all heed the warning! What a powerful and destructive sin jealousy is! As with any sin we commit, it is a choice. The Bible gives us plenty of information about the dangers of this sin to lead us all to choose wisely.
Proverbs 27:4
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? [Emphasis added]
Jealousy is a mental attitude sin that demands exclusive devotion to self and is intolerant of ALL rivalry.
When the term jealousy is used in connection with God, it is not used as a sin, but as a totally righteous attitude in which He rightfully demands exclusive devotion.
Deuteronomy 32:16-17,21
16 They provoked him [God] to jealousy [QANA = jealousy] with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
17 They sacrificed unto devils [SHED = destroyer, a reference to demons, fallen angels], not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. [Emphasis added]
I Kings 14:22
22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. [Emphasis added]
When the term jealousy is used in connection with a husband or wife demanding complete faithfulness from their mate, there also it is typically not used to represent a sinful attitude, but a totally justified righteous one.
Numbers 5:14, 30-31
14 And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: [Emphasis added]
Yes, in this case this is virtuous jealousy, not something sinful! This warning is then repeated.
30 Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.
31 Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity. [Emphasis added]
Where there is jealousy as a sin, there is a lust for something that does not rightfully belong to that person.
Exodus 20:17
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant [speaking of his slaves], nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. [Emphasis added]
For more information about slavery, please see my article and my video about it. Here are links to both—
Slavery: What does the Bible teach us about it?
#14 ~ Slavery – What are Christians to believe about it?
The Bible tells us jealousy is related to theft.
Exodus 20:15
15 Thou shalt not steal.
Where there’s the sin of jealousy, there’s a lust for the blessings, successes, status symbols or relationships possessed by others. Among others, we’ve been given an excellent illustration of this in the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
Acts 5:1-11
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost [EKPHUCHO = expired]: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost [EKPHUCHO = expired]: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Was it really their “ghost” that they gave up? For more information about this, please see my articles about it—
Holy Spirit: Is the Spirit of God a ghost?
Ghosts: What are we to believe about them?
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. [Emphasis added]
For more information about this incident, please see my article about it—
Church: Are we to sell our belongings and give away the proceeds?
The historian Luke gives us a one-verse summary of the situation that once existed with the patriarch Joseph, the son of Jacob, and his jealous brothers.
Acts 7:9
9 And the patriarchs, moved with ENVY, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, [Emphasis added]
Among other bad things, the sin of jealousy represents the absence of contentment and a sense of well-being concerning one’s own life situation. It essentially represents a self-esteem problem. We all need to learn from the apostle Paul and his beliefs and his attitude about this sin and so many other things.
Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be CONTENT.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [Emphasis added]
For more information about the means to contentment and the avoidance of jealousy, please see my other articles that relate to this—
God: Can you count on Him to meet your needs?
Church: Are we to sell our belongings and give away the proceeds?
There are many passages of Scripture that teach us important principles about this – Luke 12:16-20; I Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5. There are others that teach us how jealousy represents feelings of inferiority in one’s relationship with others. Such feelings can be very destructive. They can completely destroy a relationship—Luke 9:46-48; 22:24-30.
The sin of jealousy rejects the doctrine which says that true greatness is based on an attitude of need for our Lord and a sense of complete dependence upon Him— Luke 9:46-48; 22:24-30; II Chronicles 7:14; Proverbs 16:18,19 and Micah 6:8.
The sin of jealousy is also represented by not only the word envy but terms like covetousness, resentment and rivalry. This is why we’ve been provided with so many warnings about it.
Hebrews 13:5
5 Let your conversation [TROPOS = manner of life] be without covetousness; and BE CONTENT with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [Emphasis added]
The sin of jealousy breeds other destructive sins such as mistrust, paranoia, suspicion, fear, and defensiveness in individuals— 1 Samuel 18:5-12,29, families—Genesis 30:1-3; Acts 7:9, and nations—Isaiah 11:13. If this sin goes unchecked, it can even produce mental illness, resulting in grossly irrational activity. This is what was behind King Saul’s irrational activity in his relationship with David who followed him as king over Israel.
I Samuel 19:9-10
9 And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. [Emphasis added]
This is why an envious person is always in danger of committing murder. Such people are not “sick” but very sinful. You’ll find that in the field of psychology the word “sin” is rarely if ever used in the diagnosis of someone’s actions. However, it can be the cause of many problems.
An antonym for jealousy would be selflessness. Hence, fulfillment of the
Biblical principle of “denying self” is of utmost importance in overcoming sins of jealousy.
Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. [Emphasis added]
Jealousy, like other sins, coincides with rejection of the Word of God. This is why we should never be surprised to see jealousy and other sins in the lives of those who reject the authority of God and His Word. This is especially true among “religious” people.
Acts 13:44-45
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with ENVY, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. [Emphasis added]
This is why those who represent Christ and His teachings best are always the objects of a variety of expressions of envy usually coming from “religious” people.
1 Timothy 6:3-5
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting [NOSEO = being foolish] about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh ENVY, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness [speaking of “prosperity theology”]: from such withdraw thyself. [Emphasis added]
Believers who are serious about growing spiritually are always faced with opposition that produces suffering. A major part of the suffering will come from jealous people, especially “religious” ones.
Matthew 27:16-18
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they [the scribes and Pharisees (the “religious” leaders)] were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for ENVY they had delivered him. [Emphasis added]
Again, most of the envy faithful believers will face will come from “religious” people. We need not be surprised at this because we have so many examples of it in Scripture. But such opposition often comes as a surprise like an ambush. If you’re going to suffer as Christ did, this is something you can expect to be faced with.
Philippians 3:10
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; [Emphasis added]
This is something all great believers of the past have had to deal with. Certainly, Moses and Aaron are great examples of this—
Psalm 106:16-17
16 They ENVIED Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram. [Emphasis added]
There can be an indication that you’re on the right track spiritually when you discover that there are those who are envious of you. Actually anyone who ever does anything right can expect to be envied by someone.
Ecclesiastes 4:4
4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. [Emphasis added]
But you can always expect jealousy to be accompanied by other sins. These things operate in packs that include such sins as covetousness, hate, theft, lying and even murder.
James 3:16
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and EVERY evil work. [Emphasis added]
Such was the situation between Jacob’s son Joseph and his eleven brothers.
Genesis 37:4
4 And when his [Joseph’s] brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. [Emphasis added]
But while it seemed that Joseph was all alone in this suffering, God was with him and saw it all.
Acts 7:9-10
9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. [Emphasis added]
In the end God’s people always win out. If not in time, they surely will in eternity. A key to God’s blessing is to be sure you don’t react to the envy and jealousy of others. You must consistently believe that in the final analysis of things, you’ll be able to see God’s loving and gracious hand working through it all to bless you and your life. Such was the case for Joseph many years after his suffering that had been produced by the hands of his brothers and others. Scripture gives us the record of his later words to his brothers about this.
Genesis 50:19-20
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; BUT GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. [Emphasis added]
Isn’t this principle also set forth for us in the writings of the apostle Paul?
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. [Emphasis added]
In this verse the KJV translators made a major blunder. The subject of this verse isn’t “all things”; the subject in the Greek text is GOD. This tells us that it was GOD who worked all things together for good. “All things” can’t of themselves do anything. The NIV, the New International Version (that also mistranslates some verses) translates this as follows—
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [Emphasis added]
The New American Standard Bible also gets this right.
Romans 8:28 (NASB)
28 And we know that GOD causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
We even have another verse of Scripture that speaks of this principle.
Ephesians 1:11
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of HIM who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [Emphasis added]
When we apply this principle to being the object of people’s jealousy, just realize that God can somehow use their jealousy for your blessing. Such is true with any and every situation you’ll ever face. What a rich blessing it is to know this!
Jealousy is, of course, a common sin found among unbelievers.
Romans 1:28-29
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient [KATHEKO = fit];
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of ENVY, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [Emphasis added]
Titus 3:3
3 For we ourselves also [as unbelievers] were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and ENVY, hateful, and hating one another. [Emphasis added]
“Religious” people are among the worst at this.
Matthew 27:17-18
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for ENVY they [the “religious” leaders] had delivered him. [Emphasis added]
Acts 5:17-18
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. [Emphasis added]
“Religious” types are the ones who are especially jealous of those who receive a good response in the presentation of truth.
Acts 13:45
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with ENVY, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. [Emphasis added]
Acts 17:4-5
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with ENVY, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. [Emphasis added]
It is important for you to be wise to “religious” people. They wish to appear righteous and godly, but they are neither. Jealousy is what motivates them to do so many of the things they do.
Mark 15:9-11
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for ENVY.
11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas [a well-known criminal] unto them. [Emphasis added]
Philippians 1:15
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of ENVY and strife; and some also of good will: [Emphasis added]
In both my evangelistic work and that of a pastor I’ve been the object of a lot of envy over the past 50 plus years. It is a common sin of many “religious” types. There are many who are thought of as “saints” who are not saints or certainly not saintly in deeds. This is an ongoing problem with these people.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren [fellow believers], could not speak unto you as unto spiritual [progressing believers], but as unto carnal [controlled by their sinful nature], even as unto babes [immature believers] in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you ENVYING, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men [meaning they act just like unbelievers]? [Emphasis added]
2 Corinthians 12:20
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, ENVYINGS, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: [Emphasis added]
Some people foolishly believe true, born-again believers don’t do such things. Such thinking is far from the truth! Believers are capable of committing all the sins unbelievers commit. These verses in this study all serve as evidence for that. A passage I commonly refer to when I’m explaining this to people is this one—
Again, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas THERE IS among you ENVYING, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? [Emphasis added]
Satan gets blamed for many of man’s sins, but the truth of the matter is that most of man’s sins emanate from his own sinful nature, not Satan. There’s no scripture at all that tells us Satan caused us to do all the sinful things we do. Instead, the source is our own sinful nature, our flesh.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the FLESH [our sinful nature] are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 ENVYINGS, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [Emphasis added]
Our sinful nature looks for opportunities to express envy and other sins.
James 4:5
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? [Emphasis added]
Jealousy can be a serious threat to love. Where there’s the true expression of love there won’t be envy.
1 Corinthians 13:4
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [Emphasis added]
The expressions of jealousy make a person self-destructive.
Job 5:2
2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly [PATHAH = enticed] one. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 14:30
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. [Emphasis added]
If a person’s sin of jealousy is not controlled by the application of the Word of God that he’s learned from the Bible, it produces an entire life of sin, guilt and misery. This is clearly played out in the life of Joseph as he had to deal with his ten evil brothers, the other sons of Jacob.
Acts 7:9
9 And the patriarchs, moved with ENVY, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, [Emphasis added]
Jealousy is one of the strongest of all mental attitude sins.
Proverbs 27:3-4
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? [Emphasis added]
I end this article with one of the most important warnings of Scripture. It tells us we’re not to envy evil people. We know it’s important because there are so many verses that warn us about it—
Psalm 37:1
1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou ENVIOUS against the workers of iniquity. [Emphasis added]
Psalm 73:3
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 3:31
31 ENVY thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 23:17
17 Let not thine heart ENVY sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 24:1,19
1 Be not thou ENVIOUS against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou ENVIOUS at the wicked: [Emphasis added]
Victory over the sins of jealousy and others only occurs as we grow spiritually by the intake and application of Bible doctrine.
I Peter 2:1-3
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and ENVIES, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [Emphasis added]
Galatians 5:13-26
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 ENVYINGS, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Then we have this last verse of this passage that should serve as a summary warning to all of us about this terrible sin—
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, ENVYING one another. [Emphasis added]
