Bible Topics: Jealousy and Envy

Definition: Jealousy is the uneasiness felt due to suspicion, resentment or fear of rivalry, especially in regards to love or affection. Envy is the feeling of resentment, discontentment or jealousy of another's position or success.

1. Jealousy and envy have their roots in pride, vanity and selfishness.

• Ecclesiastes 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.
• Galatians 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
• 1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.

2. Jealousy and envy is a spirit of complaint and murmuring.

• Genesis 37:4 And when [Joseph's] brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
• Numbers 16:3 [Rebellious Korah and his followers envied Moses' leadership position and spoke against him, falsely accusing him:] And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord? [See Psalm 106:16-18.]
• 1 Samuel 18:7-9 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. [See also verses 27,28; 20:30,31.]
• Matthew 20:8-12 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
• Acts 13:44,45 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.

3. Jealousy and envy are products of our carnal hearts and must be overcome by the power of God's Spirit of love.

• Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [See also Matthew 15:19.]
• Matthew 20:20-28 Then came to Him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping Him, and desiring a certain thing of Him. 21 And He said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto Him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy Kingdom. ... 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. ... 26 [Jesus said:] But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.
• Romans 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day ... not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
• 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
• Galatians 5:14-16 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.
• Galatians 5:19a,21-23 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; ... 21 Envyings ... and such like. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
• Galatians 5:24-26 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. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
• Titus 3:3,4 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.
• James 3:15-17 This wisdom descendeth not from Above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from Above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
• James 4:5-7 [Carnal envying and pride are products of our sinful nature, which the Devil preys upon and we have to fight them with the Word and prayer.] Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
• Proverbs 6:34,35 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
• Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
• Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
• James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

4. Jealousy and envy are devices of the Devil and only bear bad fruit.

• Proverbs 6:34,35 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
• Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
• Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
• James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

5. Jealousy is an unwillingness to share and often results in total loss of that which is not shared.

• Genesis 37:4-11; 19,20 [Joseph's brothers were jealous of his being favored by his father, and sought to kill him. But Joseph survived and prospered, while they lost their wealth in a great drought and had to beg Joseph for help. See chapters 45 and 46 regarding his brothers' plea and Joseph's forgiveness to them.]
• Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
• Mark 4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. [See also Luke 8:18.]
• Galatians 6:7b For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

6. Don't be led astray by being envious of the ungodly.

• Psalm 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. [See also verse 7.]
• Psalm 73:3,12,14,16-18,21,22a For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ... 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. ... 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. ... 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. ... 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. ... 22a So foolish was I, and ignorant. [See also Job 21:7-30.]
• Proverbs 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
• Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
• Proverbs 24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

7. Jealousy and envy provide the motivation for wrongdoing.

• Genesis 16:5,6 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid [Hagar] into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee. 6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. [See also chapter 21:9,10.]
• 1 Samuel 18:6-9 [Saul envied David and made several attempts to murder him.]
• Esther 5:11,13,14a And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. ... 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. 14a Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon.
• Daniel 6:3-5 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. [Then they conspired against him.]
• Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard [Jesus' preaching], and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine.
• Acts 13:44,45 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.

8. Some Biblical examples of sibling rivalry as a result of envy:

• Genesis 4:3-5,8 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. ... 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
• Genesis 37,44,45 [Joseph's brothers were jealous of him, planned to kill him, but then opted to sell him into slavery, lying to their father that he had been killed by a wild beast. They all were later reconciled and forgiven in Egypt.]
• Numbers 12:1-2,9a,10b,15a And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath He not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it. ... 9a And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them. ... 10b And, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow. ... 15a And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days [until she was mercifully and quickly healed].
• Luke 10:38b-40 [Martha was a little jealous of her sister, Mary, who was sitting at Jesus' feet:] A certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His Word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.
• Luke 15:25-30 [Upon the return of the lost prodigal son to the father's house:] Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

9. The cure for jealousy and envy is to pray for more of the Lord's love, to be more like Jesus.

• Song of Solomon 8:6 Set Me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
• Romans 13:13,14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day ... not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.
• 1 Peter 2:1,2 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.

10. Helpful verses to claim when battling jealousy:

• Psalm 61:2b When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
• Psalm 103:14 For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.
• Isaiah 59:19b When the Enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
• 2 Corinthians 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purpose in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
• Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.
• 2 Timothy 2:3,4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him Who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
• 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His Heavenly Kingdom: to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• 1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11. Persecution is often the result of religious envy.

• Mark 15:9-11 [Envious religionists push the people to call for Jesus' death:] 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 murderer] unto them.
Acts 13:45 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.
• Acts 14:1,2 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
• Act 17:5 [Envious Jews stir up a Greek mob to persecute Paul and the brethren in Thessalonica, after seeing Paul's success with the people:] 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.

12. God becomes jealous when we put the love of material things, others, or even our service to Him, above our love for Him!

• Exodus 20:3,5,6 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. ... 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.
• Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose Name is Jealous, is a jealous God. [See also Exodus 20:5.]
• Numbers 25:11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for My sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in My jealousy. [See also 1 Corinthians 10:22.]
• Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. [See also 5:9; 6:14,15.]
• Zechariah 8:2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. [See also 1:14.]
• Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
• John 21:15 Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs.
• 2 Corinthians 11:2 [Paul had a godly jealousy for his flock, that they would stay faithful to the Lord and not go astray.] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
• 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
• Revelation 2:1-7 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; ... 4 Nevertheless I [Jesus] have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy First Love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

James Arendt

My name is James Arendt. I was raised in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, served in the USAF from 1970 to 1974, and became a full-time missionary for Christ living 40 years in Japan, 3.5 years in Russia, and a few months in other countries such as Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China where I also served the King of Kings, Jesus, as an Ambassador for His Kingdom. My full bio.

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