Posted by Do you know that anger, wickedness, backbiting, envy, malice, and quarrels stem from a single root called “Jealousy”? These emotions are most times seen to be unhealthy and may affect the relationships we have with the people around us.
There are Bible scriptures that can help us with a better understanding of the word “jealousy” and how to not get overwhelmed by the feeling. Some of these verses have been provided in this post for you to get conversant with and learn from.
What is Jealousy?
Jealousy is that painful feeling of wanting what someone else has, like their attributes or possessions. It is that fear of losing your position to someone else.
Both jealousy and envy are often used to indicate that a person is covetous of something that someone has. It came as the particular sense of “zealous vigilance” which means the mental power of paying close, and continuous attention to something or someone.
Types of Jealousy in the Bible
According to the Bible, Jealousy can be classified into three types, they are:
- Green-eyed Jealousy
- Protective Jealousy
- Possessive Jealousy.
1. Green-eyed jealousy
This is the type of jealousy that is based on envy. It’s when we see someone who has something we want, and instead of being happy for them, we become jealous.
An example of a character in the Bible who showed green-eyed Jealousy was Cain. He rose and slew his brother because of envy. We can get to know more about this story in the book of Genesis 4:1-15.
2. Protective jealousy
This is the type of jealousy that is based on love. It’s when we want to protect our loved ones from getting hurt.
This type of jealousy is approved in the Bible, because it is motivated by love. An example is God’s love for us, he has chosen to enter into an intimate relationship with his people to the point where he feels Jealous if we are unfaithful to him. The book of Psalm 50:1-23 tells us more about God’s Jealousy.
3. Possessive jealousy
This is the type of jealousy that is based on control. It’s when we want to control the person we are jealous of.
An example of a character in the Bible who showed possessive Jealousy was King Saul. The book of 1 Samuel 15:10-31 explains that Saul was envious of how popular David had grown and had received blessings from God.
He began to feel threatened which resulted in his possessiveness over the throne and what he assumed belonged to him.
Examples of Characters who displayed an act of Jealousy In The Bible
- King Saul: After King Saul lost his throne, due to his disobedience to God. God had David anointed to be the next king, but Saul wanted to make sure David never sat on the throne and so he chased him down like an animal, trying to kill him.
- The Brothers of Joseph: Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him because their father Jacob showered more love to him than them.
- Cain: He was jealous of his brother Abel, because God accepted his brother’s offering and rejected his own, which resulted in him killing his brother.
- The Pharisees: The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus because they saw he was popular and so were his teachings and they sought out ways to kill him.
- Aaron: Moses’s brother Aaron became jealous when God chose him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
- Absalom: David’s son Absalom was jealous of David’s relationship with Bathsheba, and he instigated a rebellion against his father.
- Rachel: Rachel saw that she couldn’t give Jacob children, so she became jealous of her sister Leah.
Bible verses about Jealousy
The Bible scriptures about Jealousy are categorized into five:
- Bible verses to overcome jealousy
- Bible verses about jealousy in marriage
- Bible verse about Jealousy and insecurity
- Bible verses about Jealousy and envy
- Bible verses about Jealousy in relationships.
Bible verses to overcome Jealousy
The following is a list of Bible scriptures that can help you overcome jealousy(NIV translation):
“Conquering the spirit of jealousy in the Bible“
1.) James 1:13
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
Note:- Here, the Bible tells us that God doesn’t tempt, rather we are tempted by our selfish desires. When we let jealousy overcome us, it gives way for temptation to come in.
For instance, Jesus was tempted by the devil, but by faith and with the spirit of God, He overcame the devil.
2.) Luke 22:40
“On reaching the place, he said to them, “pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
Note:- In order not to fall into temptation, it is good for us to pray, and also cleanse our hearts from every form of jealousy that will lead us to fall into temptation.
Jesus Christ prevailed when the devil came to tempt him, because he had a clean heart, and he didn’t have the spirit of jealousy in him.
3.) John 8:6
“They were using this question as a trap,in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.”
Note:- Here, the Bible teaches us that we shouldn’t condemn anyone, because even our Father who is in heaven wouldn’t do such, rather we should live a life free of jealousy.
As children of God, we shouldn’t become Jealous of anyone.
4.) Matthew 6:13
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Note:- To overcome Jealousy, we need to pray to God to deliver us from the spirit of temptations, that will bring about Jealousy in our lives.
Jealousy brings about hatred and envy and it also brings about damage in our lives, rather we should learn and also pray to God to give us the spirit to be happy for our loved ones during their good times.
5.) Luke 11:4
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation.”
Note:- The Bible tells us to forgive those who offend us because if we don’t, it could lead to Jealousy.
We shouldn’t hold grudges against anyone, no matter how much someone offends us.
6.) Luke 4:13
“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”
Note:- As Christians, we should always have the spirit of God In us, in order to avoid jealousy.
Just like the way Jesus overcame the devil with the word of God when he came to tempt him.
Bible verses about Jealousy in Marriage
Below is a list of Bible verses that will enlighten us more about jealousy in marriage:
7.) Proverbs 6:34
“For Jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.”
Note:- Here, the Bible tells us that jealousy can bring about anger, which could lead to damage in a marriage.
Husbands and wives should learn to maintain peace in their marriages.
8.) Exodus 20:17
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”
Note:- The Bible tells us here that we shouldn’t take another man’s husband or wife.
We shouldn’t take what doesn’t belong to us, and avoid Jealousy that will bring about discontentment.
9.) 1 Corinthians 13:4
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast, it is not proud.”
Note:- Husbands and wives should learn to love each other because, without love in a marriage, there will be no peace and unity. It could also result in Jealousy and a broken home.
10.) 2 Corinthians 11:2
” I am jealous of you with a godly Jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”
Note:- Here, the Bible tells us of his promises to wives, and also they should be pure and submissive to their husbands.
11.) Titus 2:4
“Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children.”
Note: Wives should always learn to submit to their husbands, and also love their children.
12.) Numbers 5:14
“And if feelings of Jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure or if he is Jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure.”
Note:- Here, the Bible warns against cheating in marriages, and also gives consequences for such acts.
As a wife and as a husband, you must avoid adultery because it’s a sin, and God hates it.
Bible verses about jealousy and insecurity
Below is a list of Bible verses about jealousy and insecurity:
13.) Proverbs 27:4
“Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before Jealousy.”
Note: As Christians, we mustn’t allow anger to overshadow our hearts, and avoid Jealousy. But we should learn to love.
14.) James 3:16
“For where you have envy, and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
Note:- A heart filled with evil, brings about envy, hatred, and jealousy. We must ensure to avoid every evil thought that leads us to act against God’s word.
Let the word of the lord fill our hearts always.
15.) Proverbs 14:30
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
Note:- As Christians, we must ensure to give our lives to Jesus, because with him in our lives we have peace.
We should be happy with all men, and free our hearts from Jealousy.
16.) Exodus 34:24
“I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the lord your God.”
Note:- As Christians, God’s promise to us is that he will enlarge our territory, and with him in our lives, no one will take over what’s ours.
17.) Romans 13:13
“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and Jealousy.”
Note: As Christians, we must be decent, put aside the deeds of darkness and Jealousy, and always put on the armor of light.
As children of God, our characters and the way we behave must define who we are in Christ.
18.) Romans 12:21
“Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Note:- We mustn’t allow Jealousy to take control over our minds and hearts, because it could lead to damage, but we should overcome Jealousy with good at all times.
As Christians, we must guide our hearts with the word of God at all times.
Bible verses about jealousy and envy
Below is a list of Bible verses about jealousy and envy:
19.) Zephaniah 1:18
“Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the lord’s wrath. In the fire of his Jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.”
Note:- God doesn’t care about our riches, nor our silver and gold. He’s after our hearts and how we live our lives as Christians.
As children of God, we must put God first in all we do.
20.) Galatians 5:19
“Idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, Jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Note:- We must ensure to live right with God at all times, and pray to God to help us remove every Jealousy from our lives that will make us not to inherit the kingdom of God.
21.) Proverbs 14:30
“And heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
Note:- We must ensure that peace dwells in our hearts always, and pray to God to remove every Jealousy in our lives.
As children of God, we must ensure that we are at peace with all men.
22.) Matthew 27:18
“For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.”
Note:- Here, the Bible teaches that we must learn not to get Jealous of anyone, because it can lead us to make decisions that could ruin others.
23.) Exodus 34:14
“Do not worship any other god, for the lord, whose name is Jealous, is a Jealous God.”
Note:- We must not worship any other gods because our God is a Jealous God, and he wouldn’t want to share his glory with anyone.
We should serve the lord our God with all our hearts.
24.) Acts 13:45
“When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.”
Note: As Christians, we shouldn’t speak against God’s word or get Jealous of it.
We must live according to his word and dwell in it day and night.
Bible verses about jealousy in relationships
Below is a list of Bible verses about jealousy in relationships:
25.) Ecclesiastes 4:4
“And I saw that all labour, and all achievement spring from all man’s envy of his neighbour.”
Note:- We shouldn’t get Jealous of our neighbor’s success, rather we should rejoice with them during the time of their celebration because once we begin to get Jealous of our neighbor’s achievement, it brings about hatred.
26.) James 4:11
“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it”.
Note:- we shouldn’t speak against our brothers or sisters or neither judge them for their actions.
27.) Philippians 2:3
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
Note:- God hates a proud man, we should be humble at all times.
God loves a humble man and despises a Jealous man.
28.) Ecclesiastes 5:4
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools, fullfil your vow.”
Note:- When we make a vow, we must endeavor to redeem it because it’s a sin to make a vow and not fulfill it.
It’s better for one not to make a vow at all than to make a vow and not fulfill it.
29.) Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.”
Note:- The Bible teaches that when we begin to show jealousy towards someone it brings about hatred, but we should learn to love one another.
The Bible also teaches us that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves because God is love.
30.) Titus 3:3
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kind of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.”
Note:- Here, the Bible teaches us to be obedient and do whatever is good, and also avoid Jealousy.
God hates a proud man. We should be humble at all times.
Prayers to Rebuke Jealousy
- Father Lord, give me the courage to overcome temptations that will bring about Jealousy in my life.
- Father Lord, uproot every spirit of jealousy in my life so that I may act according to your word.
- Everlasting Father, set me free of the thoughts that consume my mind which cause jealousy to arise.
- Oh Lord, remove every spirit that promotes jealousy in my life.
FAQ
Is jealousy a sin in catholic?
Yes, it is.
What are the consequences of Jealousy in the bible?
Jealousy leads to damage. Both emotionally physically and spiritually. It also leads to fights, quarrels, and death.
What is the Hebrew meaning of Jealousy?
QANA means to be zealous, and envious of someone.
If Jealousy is a sin, why is God Jealous?
Jealousy is a sin; when it is of man's selfish interest. But God's Jealousy is not a compound of frustration, envy, and spite. It is the passionate energy by which he is provoked and moved to take action against whatever or whoever stands in the glory of what he desires and loves. God's Jealousy is for the supremacy of his name in the church, in our lives, in the world, and also in our homes.
How does Jealousy affect us as Christians?
Jealousy affects us as Christians when we desire something that isn't ours, which then ruins our relationship with God. It lessens and delays our blessings. As Christians, we need to stay away from Jealousy because it divides our attention from God.
Conclusion
The Bible tells us to be contented with what we have, for God will never fail or forsake us. To overcome jealousy, we need to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves.
We can get to know Him through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with mature believers.
If you have ever struggled with jealousy, you probably know this to be true. When jealousy goes unchecked, it can lead to internal and external chaos.
To overcome Jealousy we need to recognize it as deception and also confront “Jealousy” with “Joy”.
