“For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” – Exodus 34:14
Bible Verses About Being Jealous
1 Samuel 18:8 – Saul’s jealousy of David leads to his anger and attempts to harm him.
“And Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; and what more can he have but the kingdom?'” – 1 Samuel 18:8
Proverbs 14:30 – A peaceful heart is healthier than jealousy.
“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” – Proverbs 14:30
Proverbs 27:4 – Jealousy can be more fierce than anger.
“Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” – Proverbs 27:4
James 3:16 – Jealousy leads to disorder and every evil practice.
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” – James 3:16
Galatians 5:26 – We should not be jealous of each other.
“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” – Galatians 5:26
Exodus 20:17 – Jealousy can lead to coveting what others have.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” – Exodus 20:17
1 Corinthians 3:3 – Jealousy is a sign of spiritual immaturity.
“For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” – 1 Corinthians 3:3
Acts 13:45 – Jealousy can lead to persecution.
“But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.” – Acts 13:45
Proverbs 6:34 – Jealousy is a serious sin.
“For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.” – Proverbs 6:34
Song of Solomon 8:6 – Love is strong and jealous.
“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave.” – Song of Solomon 8:6
Proverbs 3:31 – Do not envy those who are violent.
“Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways.” – Proverbs 3:31
Romans 13:13 – Avoiding jealousy can lead to a righteous life.
“Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.” – Romans 13:13
Philippians 2:3 – Consider others before yourself to avoid jealousy.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3
1 Peter 2:1 – Put away all malice, deceit, and jealousy.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – 1 Peter 2:1
Numbers 5:14 – Jealousy can lead to irrational thoughts.
“And if the spirit of jealousy comes over him, and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him, and he is jealous of his wife, although she has not defiled herself…” – Numbers 5:14
2 Corinthians 11:2 – Paul expresses jealousy for the church.
“For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 11:2
Matthew 27:18 – Jealousy led to the demand of Jesus’ crucifixion.
“For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.” – Matthew 27:18
Proverbs 30:15 – The leech has two daughters, and their names are Give and Give. Jealousy is like a leech.
“The leech has two daughters; Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, ‘Enough.'” – Proverbs 30:15
Ecclesiastes 4:4 – Jealousy motivates work.
“Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.” – Ecclesiastes 4:4
Job 5:2 – Jealousy leads to death.
“For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.” – Job 5:2
James 4:2 – Desire and jealousy can lead to conflict.
“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” – James 4:2
Matthew 7:3 – Take care not to be consumed with the faults of others.
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” – Matthew 7:3
Colossians 3:5 – Put to death what is earthly in you, including jealousy.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” – Colossians 3:5
Proverbs 23:17 – Do not let your heart envy sinners.
“Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.” – Proverbs 23:17
1 Peter 3:8 – Cultivate unity, sympathy, love, and humility.
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” – 1 Peter 3:8
Psalm 37:1 – Do not fret because of evildoers nor be envious of wrongdoers.
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!” – Psalm 37:1
Romans 12:15 – Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” – Romans 12:15
2 Samuel 6:16 – Michal’s jealousy causes conflict with David.
“As the Ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.” – 2 Samuel 6:16
Final Thoughts
Jealousy is a powerful emotion that can lead us down paths of anger, conflict, and even destruction if left unchecked. Throughout the bible, we see instances where jealousy resulted in harmful consequences. It teaches us to be on guard against envy and to embrace a spirit of gratitude instead. It’s crucial to cultivate a heart that celebrates others and seeks to understand our emotions in a healthy way. We should strive for unity and love over jealousy.
As we reflect on these verses, we can look for ways to foster love and understanding in our relationships. If you wish to explore other biblical topics, let’s check out some Bible Verses About Gossip or Temptation.
Remember that the challenge to overcome jealousy isn’t just about personal growth, but about nurturing our communities in love.