A Thorough Analysis on Jealousy/Envy

Terminology of jealousy or envy will be based on the ESV standard.

The two words (jealousy & envy) are very similar.

3 Kinds of jealousy/envy:
First, there is the jealousy of God. In fact, the word jealousy in ESV is mostly used for God, whose name is Jealous. Exo 34:14. In Eze 8:3, there are mentions of "the image of jealousy"

Then, we have the envy towards neighbor. Ecc 4:4

Last but not least, the more talked about "envy" is the discipline not to be envious of sinners/wicked ones. Psa 37, etc.

 

The OT Hebrew word for jealousy/envy is the same: ָקָנא (qana). קְנָאה (qinah) being the feminine. The English translations seem to use jealous & envy interchangeably with the Hebrew term.
The NT Greek words for jealousy/envy are either φθόνος (phthonos) or παραζηλόω/ζηλόω (parazeloo) from the word zeal/hot. The English translations tend to use "envy" for φθόνος, "jealousy" for παραζηλόω/ζηλόω. "Jealous" is used for the Jews a lot against Christ/Christians. In Romans 11:11,14 we have making Israel jealous so that some of them may be saved.

However, the word jealous alone is applied to God in both OT & NT.

Teaching on Jealousy:
Don't be envious of the arrogant, wicked:
Psa 37:1, Psa 73:3, Pro 3:31, Pro 23:17, Pro 24:1,19

Against envy/jealousy in general/towards neighbors:
"Envy": Pro 14:30, Pro 23:17?, Ecc 4:4, Rom 1:29, 1Co 13:4, Gal 5:21, Gal 5:26, Php 1:15, 1Ti 6:4, Tit 3:3, 1Pe 2:1
"Jealousy": Num 5:14-30, Job 5:2, Pro 6:34, Pro 27:4, Song 8:6, Eze 16:38, Rom 13:13, 1Co 3:3, 2Co 12:20, Gal 5:20, Jam 3:14,16

 

Thesis: I'm inclined to take Pro 23:17 "do not envy sinners" as a bridge between envy of the wicked and envy towards neighbors/in general. It would appear that if we envy, it is always gearing towards sinners. They may have degrees of wickedness, but they are sinners nonetheless. If that is so, then is there no such thing as envying Godly men for those who wish Godly lives in themselves? Because if we envy that which is Godly, the envy is immediately translated as seeking after righteousness. But perhaps we can still call it jealousy, sometimes, which will apply to when God made Israel jealous of the gentiles so that some of them may be saved. Though it may have negative tone and perhaps second to simply "seeking after righteousness", this latter part on jealousy seems to be a good one.

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