It’s abundantly evident in [the Bible] that jealousy is wrong. Now let’s read two instances:
- “Let us walk in moderation as we should during the day, refraining from orgies and intoxication, sexual immorality and sensuality, and fighting and envy” (Romans 13:13).
- “The fruits of the flesh are now clearly visible: immorality toward women, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, rivalry, conflict, jealousy, outbursts of rage, rivalries, divisions, drunkenness, orgies, and similar behaviors. Galatians 5:19–21 states, “I warn you, as I have warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The Ten Commandments have a similar tone:
- It is forbidden to covet your neighbor’s home, their wife, their male or female servant, their ox, their donkey, or anything else that belongs to them (Exodus 20:17).
Thus, jealousy is obviously unacceptable. But God says, “I the Lord your God am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:5 and Deuteronomy 5:9; see also Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, and Nahum 1:2) in the very same Ten Commandments. How is that possible?
Being jealous of what?
Humans typically wish to have what belongs to someone else or to be just like them when they are jealous. For instance, we can be jealous of our best friend’s academic success or wish we could have our neighbor’s stunning home or be as athletic and bright as our brother. We are envious of something that is not ours in each of these situations. This is not ideal.
Another slightly different situation in which the word “jealous” might be used is when you feel compelled to keep something that is exclusively yours. More precisely, this word is used in the Bible to describe how a husband feels when his wife commits adultery (see Numbers 5:11-31).
God does not instruct a husband to “share” his wife in any place. A husband and wife, on the other hand, “belong” to each other alone. Thus, it’s OK for a husband to feel “jealous” of his wife and want her all to himself.
God is like a jealous husband
God feels envious in this latter meaning. The claims that God is “a jealous God” are stated in relation to Israel’s worship of other deities. There is only one true God. He is also the Creator of all people. He thereby merits our undivided attention.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one,” is akin to a basic law. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 states, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might.” “Is He not your Father, the one who made, established, and created you?” (Leviticus 32:6). However, according to Psalm 78:58, the Israelites “moved Him to jealousy with their idols,” in defiance of God’s unambiguous commands to serve Him alone.
The Bible contains numerous texts in which God describes Himself as His people’s spouse. For instance, God discusses the covenant He established with the people of Israel in Jeremiah 31:32. Even though I was their spouse, the Israelites constantly broke that covenant, according to the Lord.
Thus, He charges Israel with adultery: “The Lord declares, O house of Israel, that just as a treacherous wife departs from her husband, so have you been treacherous to Me” (Jeremiah 3:20). God became enraged about this and punished the Israelites by banishing them. However, He also pledged to mend the relationship. Indeed, God is a very devoted and caring husband!
The church is like a bride
Similarly, the New Testament describes how the global church is Christ’s wife (Revelation 19:6–8). Since Jesus Christ has provided for them and saved them, He is deserving of their whole devotion. “Because I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ,” the apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:2).
Believers should never live an immoral or idolatrous lifestyle in order to be disloyal to their “bridegroom.” To be pure and blameless before Him one day, people must remain steadfast in their faith.
